Indy Pro Series champion elect Alex Lloyd was beaten to pole position for the Kentucky 100 by Panther Racing's Hideki Mutoh on Friday at the Kentucky Speedway as the two class dꦗrivers in▨ this years field once again showed why they are sitting 1-2 in the points table.

Japanese ace Mutoh set a new IPS track record en-rout▨e to his second pole of the season while Englishman Lloyd had to settle for his tenth front row start of the year.

"It was per𝓀fect," said Mutoh of his qualifying run. "I think I drove well. The Panther Racing team gave me a great car."

"Qualifying went reasonably well," added🐼 Lloyd, who leads Mutoh by 111 points in the season standings. "We were second quick. We didn't quite have the speed to get pole, but we did a ✱quick time and one that I think that we're pleased with."

Former series champion Wade Cunningham will start third with Logan Gomez a career best fourth and series debutant Leliani Munteꦛr an ﷺoutstanding fifth in the 20-strong field.

"I know I have a lot to learn about how these 🍬cars handle in traffic, so that will be the thing that I'll be learning the mos꧃t," said Munter. "Start in the top five, stay in the top five, that's obviously the goal."