Gordon on pole at Phoenix
Jeff Gordon secured tonight his 56th Nextel Cup career pole at Phoenix International Raceway
Gordon, who got married earlier this week in Mexico, made the most of a 134.464mph lap around the oval to beat fellow Chase contender Kevin Harvick to the top spot.
The four-time Cup champion is 157 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, and he admitted that he is now focusing on winning Sunday's race - and not about winning the 2006 Cup.
"It's been a great week, I'll tell you. Life is good," Gordon said. "We have less pressure on us than the top three or four guys, so it's all about winning for us."
Brian Vickers qualified third, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in fourth.
Among the Chase contenders, points leader Johnson was the lowest down, qualifying in 29th, while his closest rival Matt Kenseth qualified 10th.
Pos Driver Make Speed Time 1. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 134.464 26.773 2. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 133.973 26.871 + 0.098 3. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 133.949 26.876 + 0.103 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 133.670 26.932 + 0.159 5. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 133.620 26.942 + 0.169 6. Greg Biffle Ford 133.536 26.959 + 0.186 7. Ryan Newman Dodge 133.516 26.963 + 0.190 8. Kurt Busch Dodge 133.472 26.972 + 0.199 9. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 133.457 26.975 + 0.202 10. Matt Kenseth Ford 133.417 26.983 + 0.210 11. Kasey Kahne Dodge 133.378 26.991 + 0.218 12. Carl Edwards Ford 133.141 27.039 + 0.266 13. David Gilliland Ford 133.052 27.057 + 0.284 14. Jamie McMurray Ford 132.984 27.071 + 0.298 15. Bobby Labonte Dodge 132.944 27.079 + 0.306 16. Elliott Sadler Dodge 132.934 27.081 + 0.308 17. Casey Mears Dodge 132.856 27.097 + 0.324 18. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 132.841 27.100 + 0.327 19. Michael Waltrip Dodge 132.836 27.101 + 0.328 20. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 132.763 27.116 + 0.343 21. Mark Martin Ford 132.758 27.117 + 0.344 22. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 132.709 27.127 + 0.354 23. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 132.685 27.132 + 0.359 24. Ward Burton Chevrolet 132.421 27.186 + 0.413 25. Jeff Green Chevrolet 132.246 27.222 + 0.449 26. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 132.217 27.228 + 0.455 27. Dale Jarrett Ford 132.096 27.253 + 0.480 28. Reed Sorenson Dodge 131.945 27.284 + 0.511 29. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 131.873 27.299 + 0.526 30. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 131.796 27.315 + 0.542 31. Dave Blaney Dodge 131.608 27.354 + 0.581 32. Ken Schrader Ford 131.608 27.354 + 0.581 33. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 131.473 27.382 + 0.609 34. Kyle Petty Dodge 131.396 27.398 + 0.625 35. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 131.200 27.439 + 0.666 36. David Stremme Dodge 131.081 27.464 + 0.691 37. Brandon Whitt Chevrolet 130.985 27.484 + 0.711 38. Mike Bliss Dodge 130.966 27.488 + 0.715 39. Chad Chaffin Dodge 130.757 27.532 + 0.759 40. Robby Gordon+ Chevrolet 130.397 27.608 + 0.835 41. Tony Raines+ Chevrolet 130.326 27.623 + 0.850 42. Scott Riggs+ Dodge 129.851 27.724 + 0.951 43. Bill Elliott Dodge Champion's Provisional
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