INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Casey Stoner is back atop the Indianapolis Grand Prix speed charts.
The 26-year-old Aussie who won last year’s race from the pole completed the 2.621-mile, 16-turn course in 1 minute, 39.182 seconds in Saturday’s final practice session. Qualifying begins Saturday afternoon. Riders will race Sunday.
Stoner has won the last three MotoGP races in the U.S. and will make his final appearance in an American race this weekend. He is retiring after this season.
The reigning world champ was followed by Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa in 1:39.369. The Spaniard won Indy’s pole in 2009.
American Ben Spies, the 2010 pole winner, was third at 1:39.386.
Stoner won the pole in the inaugural Indy race in 2008 and again last year.
Britain’s Cal Crutchlow walked away from a morning crash.
