Junqueira

SURFERS PARADISE, Australia -- Bruno Junqueira of Brazil took Friday's provisional pole for the Gold Coast Indy race, moving one point closer to series leader Paul Tracy in the CART drivers' championship.

Tracy, who needs only to win or finish second in Sunday's race to clinch the 2003 title, saw his 29-point lead trimmed after Junqueira was the fastest qualifier Friday, guaranteeing himself a front-row spot for Sunday's race.

Under cloudy skies, Junqueira, who also was the fastest on the first day of qualifying here last year, covered the 2.795-mile temporary Surfers Paradise street course in 1 minute, 32.708 seconds, with a speed of 108.534 mph.

"I've been here before on Friday, so I hope I can hold it off again on Saturday," Junqueira said. "We were worried about the rain, but we waited until the last minute to go for it."

Tracy, who qualified fifth-fastest Friday, has 226 points, and Junqueira, the only driver with a realistic chance of catching Tracy, now has 198. Twenty points are awarded for winning a race.

"It's not the start we wanted," Tracy said. "We need to improve the car. Tomorrow will be an important day."

Canadian Alex Tagliani, who led most of the session, was second-fastest in 1:33.265, but his Ford-Cosworth failed a CART technical inspection and he was placed last in qualifying.

CART officials said Tagliani's car was underweight. Series rules require that cars weigh at least 1,565 pounds.

Eight of 19 drivers in the race are rookies and are making their first appearance in Australia.

Under CART qualifying rules, the fastest driver from each day of qualifying receives a championship point. Friday's provisional pole winner is guaranteed a front-row starting spot on Sunday regardless of Saturday's qualifying times.

Tracy, who won here in 1995, will try to become the first repeat winner in the 13-year history of the race.