New Zealand IndyCar racing driver Scott Dixon has only qualified 11th as Australian Will Power won pole position for the Firestone 550 night race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Marco Andretti was a distant second with another American, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Scotsman Dario Franchitti starting behind them in row two.
A field of 24 will contest the 228-lap event, with Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan starting 15th.
Andretti and Castroneves share the season points lead on 206 with Hunter-Reay third on 191 and Dixon another five points adrift.
