Braun, Westbrook top IMSA qualifying at Lime Rock Park

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (AP) Colin Braun took the pole position Friday for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race Saturday at Lime Rock Park, and Richard Westbrook gave Ford Chip Ganassi Racing its second GT Le Mans class pole.

Driving the No. 54 CORE autosport ORECA FLM09, Braun turned in a best lap of 48.824 seconds (108.6 mph) around the 1.474-mile, seven-turn road course to earn the top starting spot overall and in the Prototype Challenge class. It was the second consecutive pole for Braun.

''I'm obviously really happy to get the pole,'' Braun said. ''It wasn't our goal of that session, but we were really focused on Saturday. That's the important one. Tire management is certainly going to be important for us.''

Robert Alon will start second in the No. 52 PR1-Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA FLM09 with a best lap of 48.840 seconds (108.6 mph). James French qualified third in the No. 38 Performance Tech Motorsports ORECA at 48.930 seconds (108.4 mph).

Westbrook turned a best lap of 50.748 seconds (104.5 mph) in the No. 67 Ford GT to take the top starting position in the GTLM class. He and co-driver Ryan Briscoe will be going for their fourth consecutive victory Saturday.

Spencer Pumpelly earned the pole position in the GT Daytona class with a best lap of 53.148 seconds (99.8 mph) in the No. 16 Lamborghini.