Johnson Focused On The Fourth Title Brickyard:Jimmie Johnson did Saturday that he does better than the others: he was looking to challenge adversity Juan Pablo Montoya on pole Sunday at the Brickyard 400 Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Johnson, four-time champion of protection Sprint Cup, qualified second place, despite their resolve, in turn 2. It will begin at the first row is the second time as he tries to tie the team Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon with a record fourth victory here.
"We were proud of her knees, that we ran today," said Johnson. "We knew, Ganassi guys (Montoya and Jamie McMurray) were to be real tough."
Johnson, taken together, neat but unspectacular qualifying lap at 2 1/2-mile oval. He said that he was hampered by some occasionally unpredictable Turn 2.
"The wind was blowing from (Turns) 1, 2," he said. "Ideally, you want to plant oncoming cars. With the wind at his back, it kind of pushes the car in its arc and creates great difficulties. I hit all four corners on the right.
"I do not make any big mistakes (Friday) in qualifying trim. I can get three of the four turns to the right, but seems to mess up Turn 2. I focused on that and as a result, I was not so aggressive in 2 and 4.
Johnson said track position is more important than ever to the brick factory, mainly due to addition of rear spoiler. He predicts that only make it more difficult to pass today.
"I think the spoiler knocking the air above the sky so that (more) holes for each car, which will be great down the straightaways", he said. "I think we will see some of the obstacles, moving behind the project, but then you get a flat turn, the more turbulent air. You will be less downforce, and it will be harder to pass."
Logano to the back again
Joey Logano was forced into the rear of the car 43-grid for the second year in a row because of engine problems. He nearly earned a top-10 finish last year, placing 12 th.
Logano problems before his engine repaired.
"We're just real free," he said. "We have tightened it, and it is still free."
One hot day in which early selection is extremely important, all three records, Joe Gibbs Racing had a bad qualifying draws. Denny Hamlin, Logano and Kyle Busch made qualifying runs 31, 32 and 33.
Hamlin qualified 18th, and Bush starts today's race 23rd. Logano qualified thirty-fourth but beginning in the depth of field.
Composition was hot, and we fought, "said Hamlin, who Cup-best five victories this season. "We have a new car here, and it is very fast in race trim."
This is the third consecutive year in which Mark Martin started the three leaders at the plant. He won the pole in 2009 and qualified second in '08 to capture the third yesterday. Ryan Newman (fifth) has qualified in the top 8 and 9 of its 10 400 Brickyard starts.
Jacques Villeneuve, 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner, joins Montoya, as soon as the drivers compete in all three major races in the IMS: Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and United States Grand Prix. ? Fourteen drivers have started the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 with the addition of Max Papis and Villeneuve this year.
Others: John Andretti, Geoff Brabham, AJ Foyt, Larry Foyt, Robby Gordon, Sam Hornish Jr., Jason Leffler, Scott Pruett, Tony Stewart, Danny Sullivan, JJ Yeley and Montoya. ? Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Gordon and Martin are the only drivers to start all 17 Brickyard 400S.
