Mixed feelings at Red Bull

Vickers emerged as the second fastest Toyota driver in qualifying with a speed of 183.852 mph, only edged by Bill Davis driver Dave Blaney.

Vickers was fastest among the drivers who needed to qualify based on speed, and will line up 15th for Sunday's race, although he feels he could have done better.

"It was good. We had a good car," Vickers said. "All the guys at Red Bull and Toyota did a great job putting it together. We started out good, but unfortunately we didn't get to practice much because of the entire inspection process.

"I feel like we had a better car than what we qualified here, we had at least a top-10 car. I was just trying to be conservative.

"I didn't want to go out there and try for the pole when we didn't need the pole; we just needed to make the race.

"We accomplished our goals and we're going to go race on Sunday and get some laps in."

While Vickers will make the first points race for Red Bull, his rookie teammate Allmendinger struggled for speed all day, being the slowest of the Toyota drivers both in practice and qualifying. The 25-year-old has yet to make his first Nextel Cup start.

Allmendinger took part on Friday in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series race, starting from 26th in the No. 00 Red Bull Toyota Tundra truck, finishing one place better, in 25th, and a lap down on the race winner.