Pantano just misses Glen pole.

Saturday's Marlboro pole qualifying session and subsequent top six shootout at the Watkins Glen International road course gave Target Chip Ganassi Racing a rare chance to celebrate as both Giorgio Pantano and Scott Dixon marked themselves out as potential winners of Sunday's race.

Dixon led single lap qualifying before slipping back to fifth in the ten minute Firestone fast six shootout while Pantano rose from fifth to second in the shootout, missing pole by just three one hundredths of a second.

The undulations of the historic 3.37-mile road course in upper state New York seemed to suit the Ganassi pair, who go into Sunday's 60-lap race looking for the Target team's best result of the year.

"It was great to be first in the initial qualifying session but in the shootout I struggled for front grip and just could put in that prefect lap," said Dixon. "It's unfortunate because we have the car to do it but being on the second row in fourth and having Giorgio (Pantano) in second spot is very good for the team morale.

"I think it's pretty good for the race. Nobody has done any really long runs, so we should be all right. It was a good day for the team with two in the top four, which is nice for a change. The car seems strong. This is a big momentum circuit with fast corners so one little mistake can cost you. It should be a very interesting race."

"I've very pleased with the Target team's effort today but a bit disappointed we didn't get the pole because we were so close (3/100th of a second)," added Pantano, who is making only his second career IRL start. "We knew we had quite a good car on the long runs. Our goal was to be in the top six for the ten-minute qualifying, and we did that. We're starting second. The important thing is to start on the front row. We did the job, and now tomorrow is the hard race. The Target team have given me a very good car and put me out front now I have a job to do tomorrow."