This time, Stewart earns his Pocono pole
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John Cote/IMS
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
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 Coors Light Pole Award 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 NASCAR Sprint Cup Pocono race 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, Stewart 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 a one-hour practice session Saturday morning. 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 qualified first 12 times 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.”
Denny Hamlin, who won the most recent Pocono race in June, qualified third at 170.371 mph. Jeff Gordon (170.222 mph) will start fourth and Ryan Newman (169.936 mph) 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 (15th place),’ or something, and when it was ‘P1,’ I was like, ‘What happened? Are you serious, or are you joking with me?’” Montoya said. “We’re trying a different approach on the car, and it seems to be working.”
Series points leader Kevin Harvick will start 14th Sunday. David Stremme and Max Papis failed to qualify for the 43-car field.
