Johnson Takes the Coors Light Pole
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By Dino Oberto
 (Long Pond 8-1-08) Jimmie Johnson is on a surge. Winning the pole and race last week at Indianapolis, Johnson carried that momentum into Friday’s qualifying effort as he took the pole for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 with a hot lap of 168.215, nearly two-tenths faster than Mark Martin who was second quick at 167.560.
“It was very smooth and comfortable. We made some adjustments after practice and we got the car to where I could drive it and use the throttle pedal,” said Johnson who earned his fifth pole of the season.
Johnson was also quickest in practice and coming out 32nd for his time trial, was considered the only driver left at that point with a shot at the pole which Martin had been clinging to.
“I thought Mark’s (Martin) lap was real good but we never gave up and we went out and got it. We really improved on things since last spring and where we are on the race car. I think we’ve gone in the right direction,” said Johnson.
“One thing I’m very proud of this race team for is that we never want to be fat and happy. We never want to feel as though, ‘Ok we got it and things will take care of itself.’
“With six races left before the championship starts there’s a lot of time for guys to just sort stuff out and we need to keep pushing forward and stay hungry and act and operate like we’re a top five team and stay hungry.”
Martin, who is the career leader in top-5’s, 19 and top-10’s, 30, in 43 previous starts, is still looking for his first Pocono win.
“I love this race track. Maybe this is going to be our lucky Sunday. I would love to go to victory lane with these guys,” said Martin.
“That was really a good lap. I want to give credit to ECR Engines, great horsepower under the hood. This is credit to Tony Gibson (crew chief) and everybody on this No. 8 team.”
David Gilliland was a surprise third at 167.187. Four-time Pocono winner Jeff Gordon, who sat on the pole for most of the session, held on to take fourth with a lap of 167.106 while Matt Kenseth rounded the top five with a 166.883.
Ryan Newman, 166.784, June pole and race winner Kasey Kahne, 166.522, Brian Vickers, 166.522, Greg Biffle, 166.516 and Kurt Busch, 166.445 completed the top ten.
It was not a good showing for series point leader Kyle Busch who struggled through practice and qualifying. Busch will begin Sunday’s race from 27th.
There was only one car that failed to qualify, Chad Chaffin.
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