Tony Stewart fastest at Pocono to capture second pole of year
Tony Stewart won the pole for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. // LaDon George, NASCAR Illustrated
LONG POND, Pa. – Tony Stewart, seeking his first win of 2010, is used to starting up front at Pocono Raceway – but this time he earned it during time trials.
With a lap at 171.393 mph Friday, Stewart claimed the pole for Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the 2.5-mile triangular track. He edged Juan Pablo Montoya (171.096 mph) for the top starting spot in the second Sprint Cup race at Pocono of the season.
Stewart claimed the pole for both 2009 Pocono races under rainout rules, which order the field according to owner points, but those poles don't count in official statistics. In the June race last year, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver actually started from the rear of the field after crashing during practice and going to a backup car.
Though Stewart won that race, he hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's incident when the cars take to the track for practice Saturday. Stewart has two poles this season after winning none in the previous four years.
"I'm afraid the sky's going to be falling when I go outside," said Stewart, who has earned 12 poles during his career. "I'm a little surprised by it myself. I'm not a qualifier. I admit that's always been my weak suit.
"But, man, if you're going to pick a place where you want to have good track position, this is it. It's really important here at Pocono. If I don't go out like I did last year and trash the thing in happy hour, we'll still have a good starting spot."
Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, who won the most recent Pocono race in June, qualified third. Hendrick Motorsports' Jeff Gordon will start fourth and Stewart's teammate Ryan Newman was fifth.
Montoya, who made his run before Stewart went out, was pleasantly surprised by the speed he showed in Friday's session.
"When I crossed the line, I was waiting for the guys to say 'P15' [for 15th place] or something, and when it was 'P1,' I was like, 'What happened? Are you serious, or are you joking with me?'" said the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver. "We're trying a different approach on the car, and it seems to be working."
Series points leader Kevin Harvick (Richard Chldress Racing) will start 14th Sunday. Latitude 43 Motorsports' David Stremme and Germain Racing's Max Papis failed to qualify for the 43-car field.
