Nextel Cup leader Johnson captures Homestead pole

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Nextel Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson continued his incredible roll Friday, winning the pole for the season-ending Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson, who has won four straight races, has an 86-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in the Chase For The Nextel Cup.

Gordon qualified 11th.

Johnson won his fourth pole of the season, allowing him to pace the field for NASCAR's final race with its current car before switching to the car of tomorrow full time next season.

Johnson's speed of 176.788 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet edged Penske Racing's Ryan Newman.

Rounding out the top 10 were Gillet Evernham Motorsports' Kasey Kahne, Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth, Penske's Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s Mark Martin, Roush Fenway's David Ragan, Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick, RCR's Jeff Burton and Roush Fenway's Carl Edwards.

Among the other drivers in the Chase, Tony Stewart (Joe Gibbs Racing) was 14th, Martin Truex Jr. (DEI) 15th, Kyle Busch (Hendrick) 18th, Clint Bowyer (RCR) 19th and Denny Hamlin (JGR) 32nd.

Seven drivers made the race on speed for teams outside the top 35 in car owner points. They were Sterling Marlin (Phoenix Racing), Brian Vickers (Team Red Bull), Johnny Benson (Bill Davis Racing), Dale Jarrett (Michael Waltrip Racing), Patrick Carpentier (Valvoline Evernham Racing), Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske) and David Reutimann (MWR).

Bill Elliott made the race with a champions provisional for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.

Drivers who failed to qualify were AJ Allmendinger (Team Red Bull), John Andretti (BAM Racing), Joe Nemechek (Furniture Row Racing), Michael Waltrip (MWR), Todd Bodine (Morgan-McClure Motorsports) and Burney Lamar (EM Motorsports).

Greg Biffle, who has won the last three races at Homestead, qualified 38th.

• Mentioned Drivers:
• AJ Allmendinger