Renault driver Arthur Pic claimed pole position in the MRF Challenge 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) here on Friday.
The MRF Challenge, which is the only support race for the Indian Grand Prix, saw a three-way battle for pole among Pic, Tio Ellinas and Harry Tincknell.
Pic had also been fastest in the sole practice session.
Rupert Svendsen-Cook then went to the top of the timesheet with a 1:56:698, as the lap times started to come down with more rubber on the circuit.
GP3 race winner Ellinas became the first driver to go into the 1:55:745 and looked favourite to start on pole. British F3 driver Tincknell came close to beating him, but just missed out by one-tenth of a second.
Pic managed to beat both with one minute to go as he posted a time of 1:55:684 to take a brilliant pole position. Dejonghe and Jinkawa will start fourth and fifth respectively.
Young Indian driver Parth Ghorpade was on a quick lap on his last run and was poised for a top six position, but got held up in traffic and had to settle for 10th on the grid.
