David Brabham took the LMP and overall pole in the Highcroft HPD ARX 01-c at Lime Rock. Photo credit: Rick Dole for Michelin North America

David Brabham pounded out fast lap after fast lap in the 20-minute long qualifying session for Saturday’s Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, the fifth round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series season, edging Klaus Graf for the overall and LMP pole.

Brabham’s top qualifying position is the third of the season for Patron Highcroft Racing in the HPD ARX 01-c. Brabham, Simon Pagenaud and third driver Marino Franchitti have one apiece.

“It was really important to get the pole here as it’s the team’s home race,” Brabham said. “Plus I had to hold up my end of the bargain in qualifying.”

Although conditions were entirely wet, the severity of the dampness and falling rain changed throughout the session. As the rain subsided, the times began to drop, and Brabham began his sting of fliers. On his sixth, seventh and eighth laps, Brabham ran in succession: 59.629, 59.547, and 59.400.

But he didn’t stop there. After Graf got within less than a tenth of a second at 59.471, Brabham and the Highcroft HPD team made some adjustments and dropped into the 58-second bracket, at 58.220 and the eventual pole time of 58.106, set on his 14th lap.

“We hadn’t run much in the wet, so to go out there was unusual,” he said. “The heavy rain made it difficult, we all were aquaplaning a bit at the first chicane, a little less for the second. As it dried, cars changed a little bit. But we got rid of some understeer. I knew (Graf) would be close, as they have less weight and more downforce for them. To get pole against that car here is good, and the Michelins were consistent throughout the run.”

Graf, for his part, made a late run for it with a time of 58.746, but ran off course at Turn 1 which dashed his chances for a final lap flier. He and Muscle Milk Team CytoSport owner and co-driver Greg Pickett start second, ahead of the Dyson Lola Mazda Coupe, Drayson Lola Judd Coupe and Intersport Lola AER.

Christophe Bouchut took the LMPC pole, his second of the season, for Level 5 Motorsports. The LMPC cars are spread throughout the field in sixth, seventh, ninth, 17th, 20th and 30th. Kyle Marcelli in the Intersport car secured his and the team’s best start of the year, second in class and seventh overall.