Starting of the Chase for the Sprint Cup on a good note is ideally what every team wants to pursue their hopes for a championship at NASCAR’s highest level. It’s no different if you’re going for your first championship, or your sixth.
For five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, his pursuit of the 2012 championship starts by winning the pole for Sunday’s GEICO 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway.
Johnson, who enters the Chase tied for second in the points behind Denny Hamlin, won the pole with a lap averaging 182.865 mph.
“It’s a great start obviously for the weekend,” said Johnson after winning his second pole of the 2012 season. “Track position is so important—pit road is. We did everything right today.
“I’m excited more than anything because yesterday we were fair and needed a little bit more. The adjustments we made to our race car really helped the car, clearly.
“If we can apply those to our race setup, we’ll be just fine.”
By winning the pole, Johnson becomes the only repeat pole sitter in the 12 year history of the Chicagoland Speedway. Johnson’s previous pole at the track came in 2005, which happens to be the track record.
Starting alongside Johnson for Sunday’s race will be Aric Almirola in Richard Petty Motorsports’ No.43.
Following Johnson and Almirola to the green flag tomorrow will be: Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards in the top-five positions.
With the Chase starting up on Sunday, the majority of the eyes watching will be focused on the 12 drivers going after the Sprint Cup championship.
Chase drivers in qualifying: 1- Jimmie Johnson, 3- Matt Kenseth, 4- Dale Earnhardt Jr., 6- Kasey Kahne, 8- Denny Hamlin, 9- Clint Bowyer, 13- Brad Keselowski, 18- Martin Truex Jr, 19- Jeff Gordon, 22- Greg Biffle, 29-Tony Stewart, 35- Kevin Harvick.
47 drives attempted to qualify for the 43-car field that will start the GEICO 400.
Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, Jason Leffler, and JJ Yeley all failed to qualify for Sunday’s race.
GEICO 400 Staring Lineup
1: Jimmie Johnson
2: Aric Almirola
3: Matt Kenseth
4: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
5: Carl Edwards
6: Kasey Kahne
7: Regan Smith
8: Denny Hamlin
9: Clint Bowyer
10: Joey Logano
11: Paul Menard
12: Jamie McMurray
13: Brad Keselowski
14: Trevor Bayne
15: Mark Martin
16: Sam Hornish Jr.
17: Marcos Ambrose
18: Martin Truex Jr.
19: Jeff Gordon
20: Ryan Newman
21: Kyle Busch
22: Greg Biffle
23: Bobby Labonte
24: Michael McDowell
25: Scott Speed
26: Landon Cassill
27: Casey Mears
28: Juan Pablo Montoya
29: Tony Stewart
30: Kurt Busch
31: David Stremme
32: Jeff Burton
33: Joe Nemechek
34: Mike Bliss
35: Kevin Harvick
36: Cole Whitt
37: David Ragan
38: Josh Wise
39: Travis Kvapil
40: TJ Bell
41: David Gilliland
42: Danica Patrick
43: Dave Blaney
