Brian Vickers, Scott Speed give Red Bull Racing front-row sweep at Chicagoland
Red Bull Racing's Brian Vickers won the pole for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
JOLIET, Ill. – Brian Vickers continued his hot qualifying ways Thursday evening at Chicagoland Speedway, and this time he was joined by Red Bull Racing teammate Scott Speed.
Vickers earned his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup pole of the season, and 10th of his career, with a lap of 184.162 mph. Speed, one of the go-or-go-home drivers qualifying at the end of the session, ripped off a lap of 182.958 and will start on the outside front row in the LifeLock.com 400.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Richard Childress Racing’s Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five.
“Both of our cars obviously ran well … going into qualifying, I knew we had a chance for a top-five qualifying spot, but you also have to be cognizant of making the race,” said Speed.
Speed wasn’t the only surprise in the session. Bill Elliott, running a limited schedule this year for Wood Brothers Racing, made the most of his trip to Chicagoland, posting the eighth-best time.
Three drivers failed to qualify: Gunselman Motorsports' Mike Wallace, BlackJack Racing's Dexter Bean and Front Row Motorsports' Tony Raines.
Sprint Cup action resumes Friday with practices at 5 and 6:20 p.m. EDT.
