Gordon's Michigan tonic

Johnson took the top spot early, with Gordon bumping him for the pole with a lap in 37.723s (190.865mph), just short of the track record. Vickers, late in the order, squeezed between the two with a lap in 37.861s. Ryan Newman was fourth, Robby Gordon fifth and Brendan Gaughan an impressive sixth.

From second to 10th, the margin was extremely close, with only Gordon a tenth ahead. Tenth-place Rusty Wallace was at 37.937s, just 0.076s behind Vickers.

Nevertheless, the Hendrick fleet is in enviable position. Michigan and California favour a fast car - engine and aero - and the fast cars from practice and qualifying normally are quick on Sunday too.

Gordon won his second pole of the year, the first coming at Martinsville. He then reeled off back-to-back victories at Talladega and California, setting the stage for the team's rampage in recent races. Vickers, after a slow start, has qualified sixth or better in the past six races, including a pole at Richmond. Johnson won from the pole at Charlotte, could have won at Dover, then won again at Pocono last week, his third victory of the season.

Dave Blaney, making his second run in Richard Childress's No. 30 Chevy, wrecked hard on his qualifying lap and had to go to a back-up car.