About the only surprise in qualifying wasn't Jimmie Johnson winning the pole for the NASCAR finale at Homestead Miami Speedway. Scott Speed, who went out last grabbed the second spot from Marcos Ambrose.
The key to qualifying was the cooler track temperatures for the later qualifiers. When MarkMartin went out, putting his car on the provisional pole, track temperatures reached 101F degrees. When Johnson drove his Chevrolet, on the mile and a-half track, it was partly shaded, and track temperatures were ten degrees cooler.
After a disappointing practice session Johnson found the groove and explained (turns)" "one and two were in the shade on I was in the right spot, I knew in practice we should have been better than 21rst. I just got a poor lap." His lap of 173.919mph earned him his fourth pole this year, 23rd in his career.
Speed who drives the Red Bull Toyota, said "nothing special about the lap, with the sun going town it was good draw. We went out dead last." His best lap was 172.695mph.
Ambrose was third in another Toyota while Martin was relegated to fourth.
Winning the pole was part of the Jimmie Johnson stress relief formula. After a poor qualifying performance at Texas put him in harm's way, the three-time champion shooting for his fourth straight Sprint Cup title was focused on starting near the front to "lessen the odds," of repeating the Texas trouble.
All his has to do to wrap up his fourth consecutive Cup title is finish 25th or better no matter what Martin does.
Was Johnson thinking about the championship, not quite, yet.
"Really just trying to keep my mind on each thing I have to do each day. In the race there are plenty of things to be concerned about, but, the race is two days from now. Tomorrow we'll focus on the challenges of tomorrow and save all the worries for Sunday.
photo:Getty Images for NASCAR
The key to qualifying was the cooler track temperatures for the later qualifiers. When MarkMartin went out, putting his car on the provisional pole, track temperatures reached 101F degrees. When Johnson drove his Chevrolet, on the mile and a-half track, it was partly shaded, and track temperatures were ten degrees cooler.
After a disappointing practice session Johnson found the groove and explained (turns)" "one and two were in the shade on I was in the right spot, I knew in practice we should have been better than 21rst. I just got a poor lap." His lap of 173.919mph earned him his fourth pole this year, 23rd in his career.
Speed who drives the Red Bull Toyota, said "nothing special about the lap, with the sun going town it was good draw. We went out dead last." His best lap was 172.695mph.
Ambrose was third in another Toyota while Martin was relegated to fourth.
Winning the pole was part of the Jimmie Johnson stress relief formula. After a poor qualifying performance at Texas put him in harm's way, the three-time champion shooting for his fourth straight Sprint Cup title was focused on starting near the front to "lessen the odds," of repeating the Texas trouble.
All his has to do to wrap up his fourth consecutive Cup title is finish 25th or better no matter what Martin does.
Was Johnson thinking about the championship, not quite, yet.
"Really just trying to keep my mind on each thing I have to do each day. In the race there are plenty of things to be concerned about, but, the race is two days from now. Tomorrow we'll focus on the challenges of tomorrow and save all the worries for Sunday.
photo:Getty Images for NASCAR