PORTLAND, Ore. >> Santino Ferrucci won the first pole of his IndyCar career on Saturday and gave AJ Foyt Racing the top starting spot at Portland International Raceway.

Ferrucci, who is benefiting from a first-year alliance between Foyt and Team Penske, pulled off the shocking result by out-qualifying Penske driver Will Power — the best qualifier in IndyCar history.

It was the first pole for Foyt since Takuma Sato won the top starting spot at Detroit a decade ago. Team President Larry Foyt was waiting for post-qualifying media obligations to end before calling his 89-year-old father at home in Texas about the pole.

“It’s huge. I think you could see how happy everybody is, because you know, a couple of years ago it was very much a struggle,” Foyt said. “We’ve just kept building this team, kept adding better people, and it’s led to all this.”

Ferrucci could not stop grinning following his run.

“I think it’s no secret how hard we’ve been working this year,” Ferrucci said. “My first career pole in IndyCar, and I’m not known for being the best qualifier. Today we just felt it. We unrolled off the trailer amazing.

“It’s been a year of hard work and progression and we’ve showed some real speed at times. It feels great to put it together, man. Oh my God. We brought it.”

Ferrucci will start from the pole Sunday in his 74th career start and said that means “everything” to him.

“Hell, I’ve got some more bargaining power for next year,” said Ferrucci, who does not have a contract with Foyt in place for 2025. David Malukas recently signed with the two-car team and Larry Foyt has not decided who will be the second driver.