Auto Racing | Jimmie Johnson tops Pepsi 500 qualifying

FONTANA, Calif. — Aiming to build momentum heading into NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson got off to a good start Friday, winning the pole at Auto Club Speedway.

The two-time reigning Cup champion was easily the fastest driver on the 2-mile oval in qualifying for Sunday's Pepsi 500, turning a fast lap of 180.397 mph.

"I'm really very proud of that lap," said Johnson, the defending race winner.

For much of the session, it appeared the front row would be all Hendrick Motorsports, with Jeff Gordon sitting in the second spot with a lap of 179.565. But A.J. Allmendinger, one of nine drivers who had to qualify on speed, forced his way between the teammates with a lap of 179.659.

Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw was fourth at 179.158, ahead of Gillett Evernham Motorsports teammates Patrick Carpentier at 178.860 and Elliott Sadler at 178.492.

Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., will start in 15th.

There are two races before the 12-driver field is set for the 10-race Chase. Biffle is seventh in the standings, 625 points behind leader Kyle Busch and 129 points ahead of 12th-place Clint Bowyer.

Kahne is 14th in the standings, 56 points behind Bowyer and 44 points behind 13th-place David Ragan.

Kahne, who has slipped from eighth place with a couple of 40th-place finishes in the last two races, said he believes things could turn back the other way just as quickly.

"If they have some races where they are a little slower and we're good, then we'll probably make the Chase," Kahne said of his rivals for a berth in the Chase. "It's going to be interesting. I'm up for it."

Busch and second-place Carl Edwards have been the story lately on NASCAR's top circuit, with Edwards winning three of the last four races and Busch posting a victory and two runner-up finishes in the same span.

Johnson realizes he has a lot of work to do if he is going to beat those two hot drivers once the Chase gets going.

"Yeah, it would mean a lot for us to win on a big track like this," Johnson said before his qualifying run.