The performance streak of Joe Gibbs Racing was once again evident as Carl Edwards took pole position for the Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway pole comes after Edwards took pole last week at New Hampshire, a race that was won by his team-mate, and hottest driver in NASCAR right now, Kyle Busch.
Edwards took the pole from the Ford of Joey Logano by 0.087-sec around the 2.5-mile track. David Ragan (Toyota) qualified third ahead of the first Chevrolet in the hands of Tony Stewart.
In fact the top three in qualifying this week, was exactly the same as last week on a contrasting 1-mile flat track. Also all cars ran a different aerodynamic package last week, with the rear spoiler at Indy some three inches taller amongst other required changes.
The Coors Light Pole Award was Edwards’ first at the Brickyard, his second of the season and 15th of his career.
“After (practice) yesterday, this is amazing,” said Edwards said.
“We started so slow yesterday and we struggled. I think at one point (crew chief) Darian (Grubb) and I were looking at each other going, ‘What are we going to do here?’
“It was a struggle, and everybody buckled down, worked hard — I’m so proud of my guys. TRD and Toyota have been putting so much effort into this whole program. Stanley has been behind us 100 percent — not just me, but Matt Kenseth and our whole team. This is big. It will be neat to start up front.”
Kyle Busch, Edwards’ JGR teammate, will start ninth on Sunday in search of his third consecutive victory in the Sprint Cup Series and fourth of the season. This all despite being sidelined for the first 11 events of the season by injuries sustained in an accident at Daytona in February.
Much of the attention has been on Jeff Gordon, who spent many years growing up in Indiana. Gordon, who will retire from fulltime racing at season’s end, won the first Brickyard 400 in 1994 and has five victories in total; the most of any driver. The defending race winner will start 19th.
“I really think our 3M Chevrolet is really good,” said Gordon.
“It’s been good all weekend. I feel like I underestimated the grip. I had a little wiggle out of three coming to the green and that concerned me slightly. The grip was there in Turn 4, and I was aggressive into Turn 1, but not aggressive enough.
“That’s what’s disappointing; it wasn’t a balance issue or a speed issue. I didn’t get enough speed through (Turn) 1. It adds up with this new package. Yeah, I’m pretty disappointed to start back there.”
Josh Wise; Jeb Burton and Reed Sorenson failed to qualify.
VIDEO: Edwards on pole at Indy
QUALIFYING: Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MANUFACTURER | SPONSOR | MPH | BEST TIME | BEHIND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | Carl Edwards |  |
Stanley | 183.464 | 49.056 | Leader |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano |  |
Shell Pennzoil | 183.139 | 49.143 | –0.087 |
| 3 | 55 | David Ragan | |
Aaron’s Dream Machine | 182.886 | 49.211 | –0.155 |
| 4 | 14 | Tony Stewart |  |
Mobil 1 / Bass Pro Shops | 182.823 | 49.228 | –0.172 |
| 5 | 42 | Kyle Larson | |
Target | 182.634 | 49.279 | –0.223 |
| 6 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
Jimmy John’s/ Budweiser | 182.448 | 49.329 | –0.273 |
| 7 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
5-Hour Energy | 182.382 | 49.347 | –0.291 |
| 8 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | |
Nationwide | 182.308 | 49.367 | –0.311 |
| 9 | 18 | Kyle Busch | |
Skittles | 182.278 | 49.375 | –0.319 |
| 10 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
McDonald’s/Cessna | 182.238 | 49.386 | –0.330 |
| 11 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
Duracell / Menards | 182.028 | 49.443 | –0.387 |
| 12 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
Kobalt Tools | 181.987 | 49.454 | –0.398 |
| 13 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | |
Furniture Row/Visser Precision | 183.240 | 49.116 | –0.060 |
| 14 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
Haas Automation | 183.072 | 49.161 | –0.105 |
| 15 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
GoDaddy | 183.001 | 49.180 | –0.124 |
| 16 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet SS | 182.667 | 49.270 | –0.214 |
| 17 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | |
FedEx Express | 182.637 | 49.278 | –0.222 |
| 18 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr | |
Medallion Bank | 182.482 | 49.320 | –0.264 |
| 19 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | |
3M | 182.389 | 49.345 | –0.289 |
| 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
Lilly/American Diabetes Association Ford Fusion | 182.360 | 49.353 | –0.297 |
| 21 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | |
Brandt | 182.238 | 49.386 | –0.330 |
| 22 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
Eckrich | 182.113 | 49.420 | –0.364 |
| 23 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | |
Dollar General | 182.079 | 49.429 | –0.373 |
| 24 | 40 | Landon Cassill | |
TBA | 181.939 | 49.467 | –0.411 |
| 25 | 3 | Austin Dillon | |
Dow – Mycogen | 181.928 | 49.470 | –0.414 |
| 26 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
Kroger/Kingsford Charcoat | 181.910 | 49.475 | –0.419 |
| 27 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
FARMERS | 181.386 | 49.618 | –0.562 |
| 28 | 25 | Chase Elliott | |
NAPA Auto Parts | 181.036 | 49.714 | –0.658 |
| 29 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | |
NOS Energy Drink Ford Fusion | 180.963 | 49.734 | –0.678 |
| 30 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | |
Motorcraft / Quick Lane / JDRF | 180.919 | 49.746 | –0.690 |
| 31 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | |
Miller Lite | 180.854 | 49.764 | –0.708 |
| 32 | 95 | Michael McDowell | |
Thrivent Financial | 180.777 | 49.785 | –0.729 |
| 33 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
Advocare Ford Fusion | 180.469 | 49.870 | –0.814 |
| 34 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
Switch Hitch | 180.426 | 49.882 | –0.826 |
| 35 | 7 | Alex Bowman | |
Marsh Supermarkets Chevrolet | 180.325 | 49.910 | –0.854 |
| 36 | 33 | Brian Scott | |
Shore Lodge | 180.022 | 49.994 | –0.938 |
| 37 | 38 | David Gilliland | |
FFA | 179.472 | 50.147 | –1.091 |
| 38 | 23 | J.J. Yeley | |
Dr. Pepper | 179.412 | 50.164 | –1.108 |
| 39 | 34 | Brett Moffitt | |
CSX Play It Safe | 179.376 | 50.174 | –1.118 |
| 40 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | |
VooDoo BBQ & Grill | 178.912 | 50.304 | –1.248 |
| 41 | 35 | Cole Whitt | |
Speed Stick | 177.778 | 50.625 | –1.569 |
| 42 | 98 | Timmy Hill | |
Curb Records | 166.018 | 54.211 | –5.155 |
| 43 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
Grainger | 0.000 | 0.000 | -49.056 |
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