Pedrosa claims Indianapolis pole

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa grasped Indianapolis Grand Prix pole in a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday which was marred by heavy crashes.

The Spaniard completed the 16-turn road course in one minute 38.813 seconds to start ahead of championship leader Jorge Lorenzo who claimed second.

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner could miss Sunday’s race after tearing an ankle ligament in an early crash.

Nicky Hayden was knocked unconscious when he was thrown off his bike.

Moto GP officials said the American had regained consciousness after his Ducati spun off the track and sent him skidding across the surface.

Yamaha Tech 3′s Andrea Dovizioso starts alongside Pedrosa and Lorenzo on the front row, while Lorenzo’s Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies starts fourth after escaping unhurt from another crash.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow lines up in seventh after clocking a qualifying time of 1:39.549.

Qualifying times and standings for Indianapolis Grand Prix.

1 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda One minute 38.813 seconds

2 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 1:38.913

3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:39.235

4 Ben Spies (US) Yamaha 1:39.279

5 Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda 1:39.437

6 Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 1:39.465

7 Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:39.549

8 Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati 1:39.748

9 Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Honda Gresini 1:40.072

10 Randy De Puniet (Fra) Power Electronics Aspar 1:40.437

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