AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Sebastien Bourdais took the IndyCar pole Friday night at ISM Raceway, bumping fellow Frenchman Simon Pagenaud on the final run of qualifying.
Bourdais had a two-lap average of 188.539 mph on the 1.022-mile oval in Dale Coyne Racing's No. 18 car. He's coming off a victory March 11 in the season-opening street race in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Pagenaud qualified second for the Saturday night race at 188.148, a year after racing to his first oval victory at the desert track.
Penske teammate Will Power was third at 186.