Ryan Briscoe ensured that for the fifth consecutive year - as long as the IndyCar Series has been competing at Watkins Glen International - a Team Penske car will start from the pole on Sunday for the Camping World Grand Prix.

Briscoe earned his second PEAK Performance Pole Award of the season with a track-record lap of 1 minute, 28.5970 seconds (136.935 mph) during the 10-minute Firestone Fast Six session on the 3.37-mile, 11-turn circuit.

"I'm excited for Team Penske," said Briscoe, who also started from the pole at The Glen last year too.

"I love this place. I came in after qualifying 2 and had the run on the new red tyre, then posted the lap of 1min 28.1322secs. I haven't had this much fun in so long. It's unbelievable the speeds you can carry through the turns out there today.

"The balance of the car has been great. Hopefully we can now follow through and have a good race tomorrow."

Justin Wilson meanwhile will start alongside Briscoe on the front row in the #18 Z-Line Designs for Dale Coyne Racing.

Wilson was competing in the Firestone Fast Six for the third time in as many road/street circuit events and was happy with P2.

"I'm very pleased," stated Wilson. "Everyone at Dale Coyne Racing has done a great job. These guys here have worked hard to get here.

"We tested, and it's always a flat-out mad rush, so I've got to thank them and everyone at Z-Line Designs. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day."

Scott Dixon, who has won the first three IndyCar Series races at The Glen, was next up and third. It was his best effort on a street/road course this season and he is optimistic about what he can do in the race.

"I think the #9 car seems to race better than we qualify, and that's definitely been the tale today," said the Target Chip Ganassi Racing man. "We kind of hit on a set-up later in the afternoon in the last few practices - and I think we're getting pretty close now.

"Briscoe in the Penske car is certainly quick, and it's going to be tough to beat him. Of course, it was like that last year though, but we were able to come through in the race. We can win from here."