Elkhart Lake, WI (My Sportsbook) - Newman/Haas Racing's Sebastien Bourdais claimed the pole for Sunday's Grand Prix of Road America. The Frenchman circled the famed 4.048-mile road course in one minute, 43.046 seconds.

The pole win earned Bourdais the top spot and one championship point. It was his fourth pole win of the season and ninth of his Champ Car career.

"Every point is important," said Bourdais. "To start on the pole at Road America is not that big of a deal, because there are some good passing opportunities, but it is nice to know that you can get a good start."

Starting on the front row with Bourdais will be provisional pole winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, who posted a time of 1:43.909 on Friday.

Jimmy Vasser (4:43.374) and Bourdais' teammate Bruno Junqueira (1:43.606) will start in the second row.

Bourdais leads the championship through the first seven events. He holds a 28- point margin over teammate Junqueira (186-159). Defending series champion Paul Tracy (142) is third following his win two weeks ago at Vancouver.

Tracy ended the session by crashing into the tire wall in turn 14 with three minutes remaining. The red flag cost the Canadian his fastest lap, but Tracy will still begin a respectable sixth in the 18-car field.

"We just haven't been able to get it right, I got caught in lapped traffic on two of my laps and I was trying to make it up all at once and threw it off the road," said Tracy.

The qualifying record at Road America is 1:39.866 (145.924 m.p.h.) set in August 2000 by Dario Franchitti.

The race is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 3 p.m. (et).