Ed Carpenter posted a lap of 217.933 mph to capture the pole for the Indy 300 today at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

The pole is the first of Carpenter's career. He signed a three-race deal to drive for Panther Racing a month ago.

Series points leader Will Power, coming off a disappointing 16th-place finish in Chicago last week, will start second at the 1.5-mile oval.

Defending series champion Dario Franchitti, who trails Power by 23 points with three races remaining, qualified 11th.

Power let a chance to pick up his first career win on an oval slip away last week when a late pit stop gaffe left him short on fuel. He was forced to pit with a couple of laps remaining, allowing Franchitti to pull away for the win.

The world governing body of motor sports has opened an investigation into Ferrari driver Felipe Massa's start at the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix last week.

A FIA spokeswoman said it is trying to find out how Massa started the race ahead of his designated spot on the grid without it being noticed until amateur footage was posted on the Internet.

It was unclear whether Massa could lose his fourth-place finish.

In another case, Ferrari will face a disciplinary hearing next week after it was found guilty of breaking team-ordered rules at the German Grand Prix.

Ferrari already was fined $100,000 after Massa appeared to let teammate and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain pass him July 25 to win the race.

The NASCAR Trucks Series will make two visits to Kentucky Speedway in 2011.

The series added a second race at the 1.5-mile oval July 7. The series previously announced the trucks would run at the track Oct. 1.

The July race will precede the Nationwide Series race July 8 and the first Cup race at the track July 9. The Trucks Series has visited the track annually since 2000.

NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell said the area's steady support of the series over the years played a major role in the decision.

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