TORONTO -- Brazilian Cristiano da Matta continued his domination of the cart Indy car series by grabbing pole for the Toronto Indy in the final minute of qualifying on Saturday.

Da Matta roared around the 1.75 mile temporary street circuit in a time of 58.135 seconds, pushing hometown favorite Paul Tracy in second.

Brazil's Bruno Junqueira will start on the front of row two after clocking the third fastest qualifying time.

If the 28-year-old Brazilian can bring his Newman/Haas Toyota/Lola home in front he will become the first driver to win four consecutive races since Italy's Alex Zanardi in 1998.

Zanardi, who had both legs amputated last year after a horrific crash at a cart event in Germany, will watch the race from the stands.

Tracy, the winner in Toronto in 1993, briefly held the pole with a strong run late in the session but was unable to fend off Da Matta, who will start from the front for the third time in four races. "For me it was a very smooth session," said Da Matta. "No traffic, it was perfect."

Da Matta is currently enjoying a rich vein of form that stretches all the way back to end of last season, Reuters reported.

With victories in the final two stops last season in Australia and Fontana, Da Matta has won six of nine races, including four of seven this season.

"Our objective is to try and keep it up," said Da Matta.

"The car is running well, we're starting in front, we have a big chance.

"The wins, the poles the good results really help your confidence.

"But right now it is easy for me to be confident with the way things are going. "The problem comes when you are down."

Michael Andretti, who has won on the Toronto streets seven times, had an abysmal qualifying session and will start from the back of the 18 car field.

That, however, is unlikely to concern cart's most successful driver, who won in Toronto last year coming from last to first.