Motegi, Japan -- (Sports Network) - Scott Dixon will start on the pole for Saturday's Indy Japan 300 after topping the qualifying charts at Twin Ring Motegi.

Dixon, the last driver to qualify on the 1.5-mile oval, recorded a four-lap average of 202.031 m.p.h. for his first IndyCar Series pole of the season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver also earned a bonus point, as he attempts to defend his series title with just two races to go in the season.

"It's definitely all out for me," Dixon said. "We've got to try to gain obviously the pole point. It's only one, but it definitely helps. It's also good for the ego coming into the race, maybe confidence over some of the others."

Dixon is now 32 points behind leader Ryan Briscoe, who qualified on the outside of row two.

Dario Franchitti will share the second row with Briscoe. Franchitti trails the Team Penske driver by 25 points.

"I think our race car is better than our qualifying car right now," Franchitti said. "[Briscoe] has to keep an eye on what we're doing. We've got to go out there and close the points gap. We'll be doing the best we possibly can."

Mario Moraes from KV Racing will start alongside Dixon on the front row.

Graham Rahal qualified fifth, while Danica Patrick took the sixth spot. Last year, Patrick became the first female driver to win a major open-wheel event with her victory here at Motegi.

Oriol Servia, Dan Wheldon, Justin Wilson and Tomas Scheckter completed the top-10 in qualifying.

Helio Castroneves will start 21st after crashing on the third lap of his qualifying run. Japan's Hideki Mutoh also wrecked during his attempt and will start behind Castroneves.

Mutoh's Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan will start from the rear of the field after his car failed post-qualifying inspection.