Herta outduels five others for St. Pete pole.

Bryan Herta has won the Marlboro Pole Award for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg after improving three positions during the Indy Racing League's inaugural Firestone Fast Six qualifying format.

Herta, driving the #7 XM Satellite Radio Dallara/Honda/Firestone, lapped the 1.8-mile temporary street circuit in 1 minute, 2.5096 seconds, 103.664 mph, to earn his second consecutive pole position.

Herta had the fourth-quickest time following the single-lap qualifying attempts by 20 of the 21 cars entered in Sunday's race.

A.J. Foyt IV did not make a qualifying attempt due to mechanical failure.

In a format designed specifically for the IRL's road- and street-course events, "The Firestone Fast-Six Qualifying," the top six cars returned to the track for 10 minutes to battle for the pole position. In the extended session, Herta moved past Tomas Enge, Helio Castroneves and team-mate Dario Franchitti.

"It's easy for me to say it [the six-car shoot-out] is a good thing because it worked out for me, but I really do think it was cool," said Herta. "I was on the fence about it, but it's exciting. The single-car thing isn't as exciting, but the six-car shootout was really exciting. It put a lot of pressure on the six of us trying to improve our times."

Castroneves, driver of the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone, will start second after a best lap of 1m 02.6933s, 103.360 mph.

"One lap I was too cautious and the second one I was a little too much. I was trying too hard," admitted Castroneves.

"I think in the back of my mind I was thinking, 'If I stuff it in the wall, I'll be sixth.' It's a shame. The car is good. We're going in the right direction, but tomorrow is the day with the paycheque."

Tony Kanaan will start third.

"It [the shoot-out] was awesome," added Kanaan. "I think it was very exciting, and I hope the fans liked it. I enjoyed it. We had to the opportunity to get better, and we did, so I enjoyed it even more."

In qualifying for the Menards Infiniti Pro Series meanwhile, Marco Andretti became the youngest pole winner in series history with a lap of 1m 09.3253s, 93.472 mph, in the #26 Vonage Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone.

Andretti, the son of Michael Andretti and grandson of Mario Andretti, was moved to the rear of the field after an aerodynamic violation was found during a post-qualifying inspection, but was restored to the pole after it was determined by MIPS executive director Roger Bailey that the spec variation did not improve performance and was unintentional.

Andretti became youngest pole winner in series history at 18 years and 20 days. A.J. Foyt IV was the previous youngest at 18 years, 44 days.

Jeff Simmons will start second with a time of 69.3862 seconds, 93.390 mph. Rookie Wade Cunningham will start third in the #33 Visit New Zealand entry after turning a qualifying lap in 69.9854 seconds, 92.591 mph.