TALLADEGA, Ala. - Jimmie Johnson, the first rookie to lead the NASCAR Winston Cup standings, inherited the pole yesterday for tomorrow's EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Rain washed out qualifying, and Johnson automatically received the top starting spot by virtue of his lead in the standings.
"Starting up front should allow us to get strung out and to hopefully get away and avoid having the big group that we've seen in the past," he said.
Mark Martin, who trails Johnson by 11 points, will be alongside the rookie on the front row.
Lineup
1. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet.
2. (6) Mark Martin, Ford.
3. (20) Tony Stewart, Pontiac.
4. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet.
5. (40) Jamie McMurray, Dodge.
6. (2) Rusty Wallace, Ford.
7. (12) Ryan Newman , Ford.
8. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford.
9. (9) Bill Elliott, Dodge.
10. (28) Ricky Rudd, Ford.
11. (97) Kurt Busch, Ford.
12. (88) Dale Jarrett, Ford.
13. (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevrolet.
14. (99) Jeff Burton, Ford.
15. (15) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet.
16. (32) Ricky Craven, Ford.
17. (30) Jeff Green, Chevrolet.
18. (18) Bobby Labonte, Pontiac.
19. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet.
20. (31) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet.
21. (77) Dave Blaney, Ford.
22. (45) Kyle Petty, Dodge.
23. (5) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet.
24. (41) Jimmy Spencer, Dodge.
25. (10) Johnny Benson, Pontiac.
26. (19) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge.
27. (21) Elliott Sadler, Ford.
28. (22) Ward Burton, Dodge.
29. (55) Ron Hornaday, Chevrolet.
30. (43) John Andretti, Dodge.
31. (36) Ken Schrader, Pontiac.
32. (23) Scott Wimmer, Dodge.
33. (26) Todd Bodine, Ford.
34. (25) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet.
35. (1) Steve Park, Chevrolet.
36. (33) Kenny Wallace, Chevrolet.
37. (4) Mike Skinner, Chevrolet.
38. (14) Mike Wallace, Pontiac.
39. (7) Casey Atwood, Dodge.
40. (44) Jerry Nadeau, Dodge.
41. (11) Brett Bodine, Ford.
42. (49) Stacy Compton, Dodge.
43. (71) Jay Sauter, Chevrolet.
Failed to qualify 44. (09) Geoffrey Bodine, Ford.
45. (51) Morgan Shepherd, Ford.
46. (92) Robert Pressley, Dodge.
47. (83) Kerry Earnhardt, Chevrolet.,