NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson on pole following rained-out qualifying

Jimmie Johnson’s quest to become the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion to win the title four-straight times got a little assist from Mother Nature as qualifying for Talladega was rained out on Saturday.

This was the sixth time this year that qualifying was rained out for a Sprint Cup race and the field is set by the points standings.

Jimmie Johnson, the points leader, will start from the front for the fourth time this year and it’s no small help to him.

Oddly enough since his 11 other Chase rivals are lined up behind him, the first lap of the grueling 500-miler around NASCAR’s longest track, might be the most troublesome.

“The safest place really is leading,” said Johnson. So if we're able to stay up front and ride around up there for a long time, it would be great.”

On the other hand he’s concerned with everyone going for the five bonus points for leading one lap.

“With all 12 Chase drivers there, especially with the No. 24 (Jeff Gordon starting third) behind me and the No. 5 (Mark Martin starting second) next to me and so forth and so on, everybody's going to be trying hard at the beginning to get a lap led.”

Martin, who sits 118 behind Johnson wasn’t all that concerned about qualifying or where he’ll start. “It doesn't really matter, but I'm thrilled to be on the front row. It's the kind of honor that you enjoy when you've accumulated the kind of success that we have had.”

Gordon, with six wins here, more than any other active driver, said, “the last few times we've been here haven't quite gone our way, but that's the way it seems to be for us here at Talladega. I feel good, the car was great yesterday.”