Kyle Busch has his sights set on a repeat victory at the Brickyard 400 after he scored his first ever pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Busch led a Joe Gibbs Racing lock-out of the front row with Carl Edwards set to start alongside. The second row is occupied by Tony Stewart followed by another Gibbs Toyota driven by Deny Hamlin.
It was Busch’s second pole of the year and 19th of his career.
“I haven’t been great at qualifying here, but the guys gave me a great piece this time around, and I’m real pumped about that,” said Busch.
“It means a lot (to win the pole). It’s definitely pretty special to be running the way that we’re running and to have the success that we’ve had here the last couple of years at Indy, and I’d love nothing more than to try to win here again.”
Off the pace were the Hendrick Motorsports drivers, who failed to place a car in the top 12. Jimmie Johnson will start 13th, Chase Elliott 15th, Kasey Kahne 26th and Jeff Gordon who is subbing for Dale Earnhardt Jr., will start 21st
“I felt really comfortable right there,” said Gordon.
“I feel like today I’m much calmer than I was yesterday (in practice). Usually, my heart is beating more for qualifying than it is for practice, but that wasn’t the case.
“So, today I feel more relaxed and comfortable in the car. I hope to feel the same way tomorrow. Tomorrow’s challenge is going to be being around traffic, and also trying to get the balance of the car right and do that when you’re by yourself as well as when you’re around other cars.”
Josh Wise failed to make the 40-car field.
VIDEO: Kyle Busch speaks after qualifying
QUALIFYING: Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
| POS. | CAR # | DRIVER | MAKE | SPONSOR | MPH | TIME | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch |  |
Skittles | 184.634 | 48.745 | Leader |
| 2 | 19 | Carl Edwards | |
Stanley | 184.547 | 48.768 | –0.023 |
| 3 | 14 | Tony Stewart |  |
Mobil 1 / Chevy Summer Sell Down Chevrolet | 184.328 | 48.826 | –0.081 |
| 4 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | |
FedEx Express | 184.079 | 48.892 | –0.147 |
| 5 | 2 | Brad Keselowski |  |
Miller Lite | 183.591 | 49.022 | –0.277 |
| 6 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
Grainger | 183.202 | 49.126 | –0.381 |
| 7 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS | 182.852 | 49.220 | –0.475 |
| 8 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr | |
Auto-Owners Insurance | 182.500 | 49.315 | –0.570 |
| 9 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
McDonald’s | 182.463 | 49.325 | –0.580 |
| 10 | 42 | Kyle Larson | |
Energizer | 182.386 | 49.346 | –0.601 |
| 11 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
Haas Automation / Monster Energy Chevrolet SS | 182.349 | 49.356 | –0.611 |
| 12 | 3 | Austin Dillon | |
Dow / Mycogen | 182.286 | 49.373 | –0.628 |
| 13 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
Lowe’s Red Vest | 183.554 | 49.032 | –0.287 |
| 14 | 22 | Joey Logano | |
Shell Pennzoil | 183.273 | 49.107 | –0.362 |
| 15 | 24 | Chase Elliott | |
NAPA Auto Parts | 183.068 | 49.162 | –0.417 |
| 16 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | |
SunnyD Ford Fusion | 183.020 | 49.175 | –0.430 |
| 17 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | |
Quick Lane / Motorcraft | 182.823 | 49.228 | –0.483 |
| 18 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | |
Dollar General | 182.223 | 49.390 | –0.645 |
| 19 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Fusion | 182.057 | 49.435 | –0.690 |
| 20 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
Advocare Ford Fusion | 181.980 | 49.456 | –0.711 |
| 21 | 88 | Jeff Gordon | |
Axalta | 181.851 | 49.491 | –0.746 |
| 22 | 34 | Chris Buescher | |
Dockside Logistics | 181.265 | 49.651 | –0.906 |
| 23 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
Valvoline / Menards | 181.196 | 49.670 | –0.925 |
| 24 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet SS | 180.058 | 49.984 | –1.239 |
| 25 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
Kroger / Kingsford | 183.169 | 49.135 | –0.390 |
| 26 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
Farmers Insurance | 183.109 | 49.151 | –0.406 |
| 27 | 95 | Michael McDowell | |
Thrivent Financial | 182.819 | 49.229 | –0.484 |
| 28 | 23 | David Ragan | |
Brandeis Machinery | 182.400 | 49.342 | –0.597 |
| 29 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
Smithfield | 182.219 | 49.391 | –0.646 |
| 30 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | |
ScienceLogic | 182.083 | 49.428 | –0.683 |
| 31 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
AccuDoc Solutions | 181.932 | 49.469 | –0.724 |
| 32 | 44 | Brian Scott | |
Medallion Bank | 181.690 | 49.535 | –0.790 |
| 33 | 38 | Landon Cassill | |
Snap Fitness | 181.342 | 49.630 | –0.885 |
| 34 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
GEICO | 180.792 | 49.781 | –1.036 |
| 35 | 98 | Cole Whitt | |
Speed Stick | 179.651 | 50.097 | –1.352 |
| 36 | 93 | Ryan Ellis | |
ScienceLogic | 179.019 | 50.274 | –1.529 |
| 37 | 7 | Regan Smith | |
Nikko RC / Toy State Chevrolet | 178.356 | 50.461 | –1.716 |
| 38 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
Allstate Peterbilt Group | 177.978 | 50.568 | –1.823 |
| 39 | 55 | Reed Sorenson | |
TBD | 176.180 | 51.084 | –2.339 |
| 40 | 32 | Patrick Carpentier | |
Can-Am / Kappa | 174.027 | 51.716 | –2.971 |
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