Patrick takes first pole in qualifying washout.

Danica Patrick became the second woman in IndyCar Series history to start from the pole position at Kentucky Speedway after late-afternoon rain washed out Marlboro Pole Qualifying.

Current championship leader Dan Wheldon will join the Rahal-Letterman Racing driver on the front row for Sunday's Amber Alert Portal Indy 300 as both drivers topped a session each during pre-qualifying practice.

The starting grid was set on combined practice session results minus the #2 and #4 Panther Racing cars of Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge, who will start from the rear of the 23-car field because of engine changes.

Patrick recorded her fast lap of 217.516 mph (24.4947 seconds) in the second session of the day at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, where Sarah Fisher became the first woman to win a pole in 2002. Wheldon's fast lap of 217.500 (24.4965) topped the morning session.

"(Qualifying is) the true earned way for sure, but that doesn't make practice any less difficult," said Patrick, who recorded a field-high 107 laps during practice as she prepares for her first IRL race in Kentucky. "You're definitely putting yourself out to see what your car will do in qualifying, and that's what I was doing. My engineer, Ray (Leto), and I - he came up with a good plan, and I just went 'OK.' He planned it right."

The starting position tied Wheldon's season best ( Phoenix ), though with four victories among eight top-5 finishes, he's obviously been able to make his way to the front. Wheldon holds a 78-point lead over Sam Hornish Jr. with six races remaining.

Hornish (217.307 mph), who in 2000 led his first IndyCar Series laps at this facility, will share row two with Scott Dixon (217.268).

Reigning IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan (217.089) will be on row three with Vitor Meira (217.036l). Buddy Rice, the pole sitter and race runner-up last year, will start 10th after a quick lap of 216.329 mph.