Kansas City, KS (My Sportsbook) - Graham Rahal captured his second pole in the first three IndyCar Series races this season by winning Saturday's qualifying for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway.

Rahal, who became the youngest pole winner in series history earlier this month at St. Petersburg, FL, averaged 211.311 m.p.h. in his four laps around the 1.5-mile oval. The 20-year-old was the last to qualify in the 22-driver field.

"It's a fantastic start for the McDonald's team," Rahal said. "First of all, for us to get a pole when we go to St. Petersburg, and then to do it again here at Kansas, I think it's quite a shock. And obviously, in memory of Paul (Newman) it's great for us to have this success early in the season."

Rahal made his series oval debut at Kansas one year ago, starting 20th and finishing 12th.

Rahal's Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing teammate, Robert Doornbos, a newcomer to the series this year, will start on the outside pole after an average speed of 210.665 m.p.h. in his four laps. It's the first time NHLR drivers have started on the front row since Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell did it for the team in the 1993 Michigan 500.

"I went out first, then the engineers saw what they could do and improve, and (Graham) grabbed the pole, and now I'm second," Doornbos said. "So I think it's been a great team result."

Danica Patrick will start third, followed by defending series champion Scott Dixon and Marco Andretti.

Sixth through 10th will be: Mario Moraes, Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Ed Carpenter.

Wheldon won at Kansas in 2007 and '08 when he drove for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Series points leader Dario Franchitti had qualified second, and Helio Castroneves was third quickest. But both competitors had their times negated after driving below the white line during their qualifying runs. Franchitti will start 21st, while Castroneves will roll off 22nd.

Sunday's race is scheduled to start around 5:00 p.m. (et).