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Will Power takes pole and sets track record, Penske drivers dominant in Belle Isle qualifying

Associated Press
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Will Power takes the first turn during qualifying for the first race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader Friday, May 29, 2015, in Detroit. Power secured the pole position. (AP Photo/Dave Frechette) (The Associated Press)

Will Power holds the pole position trophy after qualifying first for the first race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader, Friday, May 29, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (The Associated Press)

Will Power set a track qualifying record at Belle Isle, winning the pole Friday for the first of this weekend's two IndyCar races.

Power's time of 1 minute, 16.0941 seconds bested the previous mark of 1:16.1371 by Takuma Sato last year. Helio Castroneves also beat that record Friday, finishing second to Power at 1:16.12.

Power, Castroneves and Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya gave owner Roger Penske a sweep of the top three qualifying spots for Saturday's race. Penske has been a driving force behind this event, and his team has performed impressively of late in Detroit. Power and Castroneves won at Belle Isle in 2014.

Sato was fourth in qualifying Friday. Simon Pagenaud was next, giving Penske four of the top five.