MEXICO CITY -- Rookie Tiago Monteiro topped the second day of qualifying for Sunday's Mexico Grand Prix to join pole-sitter Paul Tracy on the front row of the race.

None of the 20 drivers was able to beat Tracy's performance from Friday: a 112.893 mph average speed around the 2.786-mile Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City.

Monteiro, running for Fittipaldi-Dingman Racing, averaged 112.639 mph Saturday, bumping Tracy's rival for the series crown, Bruno Junqueira, to the second row.

Monteiro, who raced in Formula 3000 last year, had never before qualified higher than fifth (at Denver on Aug. 31). His top finish in a race is seventh.

Rookie of the Year leader Sebastian Bourdais joined Junqueira on the second row.

Moving up to the third row were rookies Ryan Hunter-Reay and David Manning.

	Paul Tracy, sporting a farewell logo to his Player's sponsor, was fastest in Friday's run.

Tracy took the provisional pole Friday to add a point to his narrow lead over Junqueira in the CART standings.

Junqueira, who was on the pole here last year, was just behind Tracy with a lap time of 1:28.905.

"It's not what I expected, for sure,'' Junqueira said. "I didn't get any points and Tracy got a point.''

Tracy now has a 14-point lead with three races left.

All the cars were running a few seconds off times from a year ago.

Junqueira said the track seemed bumpier since its re-inauguration last year after a major overhaul -- which was meant partly to solve a bump problem on the old track.

"On turn seven, for sure, there's a big bump you didn't have last year,'' he said.

"It's not one or two big bumps,'' Bourdais said. "It's just small bumps everywhere. ... It's very easy to lose the car.''

The top three provisional qualifiers said they were affected by the thin air at Mexico City's 7,200-foot altitude, which reduces downforce that helps keep cars on the track and also slows throttle response.

A record six Mexican drivers are among the 20 competing in the race, but most had mediocre qualifying sessions.

Jourdain clocked a 112.204 mph average in his Team Rahal Lola. After a win in Miami on Sept. 28, Mario Dominguez had a top lap of 111.576 mph for 11th place, just ahead of Adrian Fernandez at 111.321.

Tracy and Junqueira are coming off muddled performances in the Miami race.

Tracy brushed tires with Bourdais midway through the race, knocking both out -- an error Tracy said was his.

With Tracy out and a chance to gain more points, Junqueira slid his car into that of leader Adrian Fernandez. Both of them were knocked out as well.

Asked whether they learned anything from last week's bungles, Bourdais gave Tracy a friendly slap on the arm and quipped, "That would be a very good idea.''