DETROIT -- Scott Dixon won his first pole of the year, snapping Penske Racings streak of having the fastest car in IndyCar qualifying this season. cheap jerseys from china . Dixon hopes the favourable position -- thanks to clocking a track record of 1 minute, 10.3162 seconds Saturday -- will help him snap a five-race winless skid this year. It certainly should help the two-time series champions chances to win the 28th race of his career at the Detroit Grand Prix, where a slick and tight 2.07-mile course isnt known for much manoeuvring. The past two races on Belle Isle, in 2008 and 2007, had just nine lead changes combined when Justin Wilson and Tony Kanaan won. "Its one of the toughest tracks we come to as far as passing," Dixon said after earning his 18th career pole. "Its definitely a handful to get around here. "Its a fun track, but man its crazy out there. Penskes Will Power, the IndyCar points leader, will start Sundays race alongside Dixon in the front row, Alex Tagliani will begin a season-best third with Simon Pagenaud fourth and EJ Viso fifth. Dixon gave Chip Ganassi Racing its first pole this year and hopes to give the team its second straight win. It will be tough for Dario Franchitti to do it. The reigning Indianapolis 500 champion and Ganassi driver will start 15th in the 25-car field. He blamed Ed Carpenters sputtering car and questionable tactics for getting in his way and slowing him down in qualifying. "When a faster car does come up, get the hell out of the road," Franchitti said. "At some point, when were in that position we can return the favour." Franchitti, though, acknowledged it might be difficult to get payback by winning a race that doesnt lend itself to passing. "Its tough," he said. "Theres going to be a lot of aggression from everyone back there." Franchitti started his last race 16th and finished in front, winning his third signature race in open-wheel racing after making an Indianapolis 500-record 35th lead change. Dixon finished second to Franchitti for the sixth time in his career Sunday and was a runner-up for the third time in five races this season. He led 44 laps at the Indy 500 and exchanged leads with Franchitti 10 times during the last 60 laps. Penske won the first four IndyCar races with Chevrolet engines before IndyCar gave Honda-powered teams, such as Ganassis, a boost that paid off for Franchitti in one of Ganassis cars at the Indy 500. "I think I got his attention last week," Ganassi said. "We still have to race on Sunday." With Penskes money, power and passion, the area in which he lives has an auto race again for the first time since 2008. "This is an opportunity to showcase Detroit," Penske said. "We have 5 hours of TV coverage, great support from the corporate community along with having the mayors office and city council on the same page to benefit the city and region." Penske is hoping the series owners can stick together after he said they were unified during an hour-long gathering prior to a meeting with IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard on Saturday afternoon. "Everyone in there is good," Penske said before taking off on a scooter -- just minutes before Bernard walked in the Panther Racing hospitality tent to address the group. Bernard, the leader of a series that seems to be building momentum off a thrilling Indy 500, confirmed speculation on his Twitter account that a team owner is trying to get him fired. Bernard doesnt regret publicly fueling the discord, adding he has been an advocate for the owners during his two-plus years in charge. He was pleased with his talk with owners that lasted almost 40 minutes. "We had a very productive meeting," he said. "It was excellent." Power hopes IndyCar leadership, team owners and drivers can figure out a way to avoid stunting success that has been building since two American open-wheel series became one in 2008 after division drained the interest in the sport. "Were growing in terms of fans at the track, sponsorships, competition at the track and car count," Power said. "If you think about where we are compared to five years ago, its a massive difference -- night and day." cheap nfl jerseys . This week they discuss Jason Collins ignoring homophobic slurs, Sam Tagesons big day with the San Jose Sharks, Alex Rodriguez in the news again, and Sidney Crosbys Hart Trophy case. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Tiger Woods had to play a left-handed shot out of the desert.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have agreed with right-hander Mike Pelfrey on an $11 million, two-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal, filling another spot in their revamped, veteran-heavy rotation. The contract was reached over the weekend, pending a physical, the person told The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because the team had yet to finalize the deal. Pelfrey made $4.1 million last season in a one-year deal with the Twins, including $100,000 in a performance bonus for surpassing 150 innings in his first season back from elbow ligament- replacement surgery. He made only three starts for the New York Mets in 2012 before the injury, but he recovered in time for 2013, taking the mound at Target Field on April 4 just 11 months after the operation. Pelfrey picked up the win that day in his American League debut, but the rest of the year was rough, not an uncommon occurrence for pitchers following Tommy John surgery. Pelfrey finished 5-13 for a 66-96 team, with a 5.19 ERA and 53 walks in 152 2-3 innings. Opponents batted .300 against himm over 29 starts. wholesale jerseys. The Twins, though, took an opportunity to buy relatively low and bank on an improvement by a former first-round draft pick who made at least 31 starts for the Mets for four straight seasons from 2008-11. He was 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA over a career-high 204 innings in 2010 with only 12 home runs allowed. Pelfrey still posted a personal-best strikeout rate of six per nine innings, despite his struggles. The soon-to-be-30-year-old is on track to be the Twins fourth starter. Minnesota previously signed right-handers Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes for the top of the rotation, bringing its newly committed money for starting pitching this off-season to $84 million guaranteed over the next four seasons. Kevin Correia, the best of a bad bunch last year, is the only holdover who appears to have a spot. The first four starters will have an average opening-day age of 30. Samuel Deduno, Scott Diamond, Kyle Gibson and Vance Worley, for now, are the front-runners for the final slot. Twins starters had a majors-worst 5.26 ERA last season. ' ' '
