Johnson Finally on Pole
Points leader Jimmie Johnson took a surprising pole position last night at Chicagoland Speedway, ahead of Sunday's USG Sheetrock 400
This was Johnson's first pole position in more than a year, and the eighth of his career.
Johnson beat the series' top qualifier Ryan Newman to the top spot, with Newman finishing a close second.
Newman, however, was able to secure pole postion an hour later, when he qualified for the USG Durock 300 Busch race.
"I don't think the qualifying speeds will translate exactly into what you see on the track in the race," Johnson said. "With the extra practice we have (Saturday), it allows us to mess up our car, and it allows the other guys to make theirs better.
"But we've learned some things the last few weeks and they seem to be coming together right now."
Pos Driver Make Speed 1. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 188.147 2. Ryan Newman Dodge 188.055 3. Casey Mears Dodge 187.676 4. Matt Kenseth Ford 187.396 5. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 187.324 6. Greg Biffle Ford 187.065 7. Scott Riggs Chevrolet 186.858 8. Dale Jarrett Ford 186.664 9. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 186.393 10. Dave Blaney Chevrolet 186.278 11. Mike Bliss Chevrolet 186.194 12. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 186.181 13. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 186.168 14. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 186.156 15. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 186.066 16. Travis Kvapil* Dodge 185.906 17. Bobby Hamilton Jr. Chevrolet 185.822 18. Kasey Kahne Dodge 185.765 19. Kurt Busch Ford 185.720 20. Mark Martin Ford 185.554 21. Carl Edwards Ford 185.471 22. Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 185.382 23. Elliott Sadler Ford 185.350 24. Kyle Busch* Chevrolet 185.242 25. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 184.780 26. Bobby Labonte Chevrolet 184.647 27. Michael Waltrip Chevrolet 184.596 28. Ricky Rudd Ford 184.508 29. Kyle Petty Dodge 184.470 30. Scott Wimmer Dodge 184.370 31. David Stremme Dodge 184.099 32. Stuart Kirby Chevrolet 184.030 33. Rusty Wallace Dodge 183.949 34. Terry Labonte Chevrolet 183.811 35. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 183.536 36. Jamie McMurray Dodge 183.430 37. Carl Long Chevrolet 183.175 38. Sterling Marlin Dodge 183.063 39. Kevin Lepage Dodge 182.766 40. Jeff Green Dodge 182.648 41. Ken Schrader Dodge 182.223 42. Mike Wallace+ Chevrolet 178.695 43. Jason Leffler Chevrolet 181.818
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