Junqueira, in a Toyota Lola, broke the mark set 30 minutes earlier by Canada's Paul Tracy, completing a lap on the 2.795-mile temporary street circuit in 1 minute, 31.515 seconds.

Junqueira, 0.60 seconds faster than Tracy, averaged 109.949 mph on his ninth lap with about 10 minutes left in the session extended by three red flags. Junqueira and Tracy topped Dario Franchitti's 1999 track qualifying record of 1:31.703.

"It was a pretty exciting session," said Junqueira, a two-time winner this year. "I had to wait and wait for red flags. When Paul did a 1:31.5, I thought it was unbeatable. I knew I only had three laps left so I went for it."

Tracy said he had no chance to improve on Junqueira's mark.

"We were out there circulating hoping no one would get it, but when it went, it was just too late to respond," Tracy said.

"The cars are evolving and getting better. The teams are getting to know the cars better and this is a track that you can really push it to the limit."

CART reintroduced Friday qualifying this year on road courses. The pole winner is determined by the fastest lap on Friday and Saturday. Friday's winner is guaranteed a front-row starting spot for Sunday's race regardless of the outcome of Saturday's second qualifying session.

Tracy was second in 1:31.575, followed by New Zealand's Scott Dixon and 2002 CART series winner Cristiano da Matta.

Jimmy Vasser was eighth-fastest in his second car after hitting the first-turn tire barrier hard in his primary car.

"The car is messed up," said Vasser, who was not hurt in the accident. "I feel bad for the crew guys because that car was fast."

Earlier, da Matta, driving with No. 1 on his car for the first time after clinching the points title at Miami three weeks ago, was the fastest in practice leading to the 70-lap, 195.65-mile race.

Last year, da Matta led 16 of 65 laps for a 5.7-second victory over Michael Andretti.

Andretti, ninth fastest Friday, is making his last appearance in Australia before switching to the rival Indy Racing League next season. He is one of six drivers with Gold Coast Indy victories and is attempting to become the first two-time winner in the race's 12-year history.

On Oct. 6, da Matta clinched the CART FedEx championship series, becoming the quickest driver to clinch the title since Alex Zanardi took his second title in 1998 with four races remaining. There are two races left after the Gold Coast event.

The Brazilian had the No. 1 decal placed on his car Thursday, replacing the No. 6 he had since the start of the season. The series winner from last year, Gil de Ferran, who would have had the No. 1 on his car this season, jumped to the rival Indy Racing League from CART at the end of last year.

Queensland state's political leader, Premier Peter Beattie, said the government and CART had reached an agreement on keeping the race on the Gold Coast until 2008.

The race has been held in Surfers Paradise for 12 years. Organizers are expecting more than 300,000 spectators on the circuit during the weekend.