Rain in Pocono? No way! Of the race's nine front-engine dinosaurs, Steve Ball started highest on the grid. If qualifying was rained out, how was this determined? Since the first three races of that '81 Silver Crown season were at Eldora, Indy mile and Knoxville, it is doubtful that Ball was ahead on points. Yes, I did forget about Herk's turbo Mallard (currently on display at Speedway Motors). As for those 1957-59 events, Tony Bettenhausen averaged 177mph for a 2.64-mile lap of the concrete high banks of Monza, Italy. Two years later when Daytona opened its 2.5-mile, George Amick qualified at 176mph. He was killed there one week later.

Here's a link to the 1981 Pocono finish: http://www.champcarstats.com/races/1981u02.htm