INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Ed Carpenter has turned Indianapolis Motor Speedway into quite the home track advantage.

Carpenter graduated from Butler, roots for the Indiana Pacers, and has an unabashed love for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." But the stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George is leaving his own imprint on the Indy sports scene each May.

Carpenter took back-to-back pole victories, posting a four-lap average of 231.067 mph Sunday to take the top spot in the 500 for the second straight year.

"I felt that it was harder," Carpenter said. "It was just a different position because when I made my run last year, we didn't really have anything to lose. This year, being the last guy to go out, I think there was a little bit of pressure to not mess it up."

Carpenter's No. 20 Chevrolet was the car to beat all weekend, and the hometown favorite showed no signs of rust in his first IndyCar Series race of the season. He owns Ed Carpenter Racing and decided in November to run only on ovals, where he excels. He turned his car over to Mike Conway on road and street courses, and skipped the first four races of the season.

In an event steeped in tradition, Carpenter added his own by becoming the 11th driver to win consecutive poles.

"The month of May is fun," he said. "I wouldn't want to rush through and miss the parade, drivers meeting, and autograph sessions."

Carpenter was the last of nine qualifiers to hit the track and bumped James Hinchcliffe from the top spot. Hinchcliffe will start second after sustaining a concussion last weekend in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Will Power will join them on the front row.

Three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves was fourth, followed by Simon Pagenaud and Marco Andretti. Carlos Munoz, Josef Newgarden and J.R. Hildebrand will be on the third row.

Carpenter was 10th in last year's Indy 500.

"It's all about the race," the 33-year-old Carpenter said. "Hopefully, we can close the deal this year."