Fisher is first woman to win IRL pole

SPARTA, Ky. -- Sarah Fisher climbed from her car, broke into a mile-wide smile and buried her face in her hands.

The 21-year-old driver, already in her fourth season in the Indy Racing League, became the first woman to win the pole position in a major auto race Saturday when she nudged Billy Boat from the top spot in qualifying for today's Belterra Casino Indy 300.

"I've never been this excited to race. Just get me in the car!" she said. "It's amazing how much fun you have when things are going right."

Fisher, who left Walker Racing after last season, was without a ride until she joined Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and teammate Robbie Buhl and finished fourth at Nazareth, Pa., in her first start this season. She led four laps late in the race at Michigan two weeks ago before finishing eighth.

WINSTON CUP: Ricky Rudd is in position to join Jeff Gordon as the greatest road racer in NASCAR history.

A victory today for polesitter Rudd at Watkins Glen International would leave the drivers tied with seven wins each on the serpentine layouts. But he won't be climbing out of his car with the belief that he has one peer.

"There are so many good guys throughout the field, winning is so tough," he said. "I don't care how good of a road racer you are. If you don't have that race car underneath you, you can't get it done. It's all about the teams."

Where Rudd will fit next year probably will be announced next weekend. He said Friday "there's no room for me at Robert Yates Racing."

CART: Patrick Carpentier will start the Mid-Ohio Grand Prix today in a position that's become unfamiliar to him -- on the pole.

Carpentier's quickest lap of 122.925 mph Saturday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course made him the top qualifier at a CART event for the first time since he won the pole in 1998 at Milwaukee -- 83 races ago.

-- From wire reports