Hamlin lovin’ Pocono
Denny Hamlin is the new driver to beat at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., proving that Friday by winning the pole at the track where he scored his first career victory.
Hamlin, who won here last month, made his qualifying lap very late in the session with Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne sitting on top of the chart. But he posted a lap at 169.827 mph to grab the pole.
“You like this place, don’t you?” crew chief Mike Ford asked Hamlin as he climbed out of his car.
He certainly does.
“I just went out there, the track had a lot of grip, and it was good enough for the pole,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin mastered this track in June, partly because he had studied Pocono’s characteristics during hours upon hours of racing it on a video game.
He then won the pole, overcame nearly wrecking his Chevrolet after a blown tire sent him spinning through the grass, and held off the competition after a late red-flag to score the win.
Hamlin would love another win – or even a decent finish – to work his way into Chase for Championship contention. He heads into Sunday’s race 12th in the standings, just 18 points out of the top 10.
Newman, who won the pole last weekend in New Hampshire, was second with a lap at 169.418 mph. He’d like to go to the end this week, though – he crashed and finished 39th last week.
Kahne was third and was followed by Hendrick Motorsports teammates Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon.
Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Scott Riggs and Joe Nemechek rounded out the top 10.
Johnson won’t back down
Anything less than a Nextel Cup championship would only make the 2006 season another one of those what-if scenarios for Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson, who carries a 68-point lead into Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500, has two runner-up finishes, including the initial Chase season of 2004, and was fifth two other times.
He continues to exhibit the technique and smarts to win the title. But with seven races remaining before the Chase field is set, he’s not taking anything for granted, even with four newcomers currently in the top 10.
“I think experience does play into it,” he said. “I don’t think, though, that it’s mandatory to have experience to win a championship.”
Bourdais strong in Edmonton
After qualifying a season-worst 10th here last year, Sebastien Bourdais seemed a little surprised to be on the provisional pole for the Edmonton (Alberta) Grand Prix after the opening round of time trials.
But he wasn’t totally satisfied.
“Last year, obviously, the team struggled quite a bit with the speed,” said Bourdais, who came back from the poor start to win the inaugural race on the temporary circuit at Edmonton’s City Center Airport.
“We came here with a completely different setup on our car from last year and, so far, it’s working pretty well,” said Bourdais, whose teammate, Bruno Junqueria qualified third. “It’s not ideal yet, but we’re still working on a few different changes and I think we’ll get it right.”
Burkhart burns track in Kent
Phil Burkart Jr. raced to the Funny Car lead in provisional qualifying with a pass of 4.898 seconds at a top speed of 316.75 mph at the Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Kent, Wash.
Burkart was joined by Top Fuel driver Rod Fuller and Pro Stock points leader Jason Line as qualifying leaders at the $1.4 million race.
Thirteen-time Funny Car champion John Force continues to track down points leader Ron Capps with a No. 2 qualifying effort. His 4.903 at 316.52 mph in a Ford Mustang placed him just behind Burkart and seven spots ahead of Capps’ 4.968.