HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Jimmie Johnson took a step closer to his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship on Friday by taking the pole for Sunday's Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Johnson earned his 23rd career pole by turning a lap of 173.919 mph in his Lowe's Chevrolet.
"I struggled at the start of practice. We were committed to the lower line,” Johnson said. “We quickly found the top was the place to be."
“We had two or three runs in qualifying trim where I tried to run the top. I tried too hard on my last run.”
It was Johnson's fourth pole of 2009 and second career at the 1.5-mile Homestead track.
Scott Speed surprised the field with a late session run of 172.695 mph.
Speed was asked about feeling any pressure starting next to Johnson who is trying to lock up the title on Sunday.
"Race car drivers usually don't make plans," Speed said. "But you don't want to be the driver that takes out the 48. That doesn't look good on your resume."
Speed equaled his best start of the season. He also qualified second at Chicagoland.
Marcos Ambrose qualified third for his best qualifying effort on an oval in 2009 and the run equaled his best effort since Sonoma.
Mark Martin, who is the only driver that has a mathematical shot of winning the championship, qualified fourth.
Tony Stewart rounded out the top five.
Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Bill Elliot and Clint Bowyer completed the first ten qualifiers.
Sunday's Ford 400 is slated for a 3:15 p.m. ET green flag.
