Auto Racing | Jimmie Johnson leads Cup qualifying at Arizona track

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Jimmie Johnson moved a step closer to a third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title by winning the pole Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Johnson, the defending race winner, turned a lap of 134.725 mph in his Chevrolet to earn the top starting spot for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Johnson is seeking to become the first driver since Cale Yarborough (1976 to 1978) to win three consecutive titles at NASCAR's highest level.

Johnson is 106 points ahead of second-place Carl Edwards. Third-place Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., is 143 points behind Johnson with two races left. The finale is the Nov. 16 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

"That's really the bottom line, is we need to be 162 [points] up leaving here, then all I have to do is go down there and start," Johnson said. "Am I planning on that being the case? No. Carl's car has been so strong. My goal is to outrun him. I don't want this margin to shrink anymore."

Edwards, who had the fastest car in Friday's final practice session, qualified 15th because he said the engine in his Ford bogged down on the backstretch during his lap. Edwards has won the last two races.

Biffle will start in 31st. Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw will start 11th.

Notes

• What is bad for General Motors can't be good for Chevrolet drivers in NASCAR. News that General Motors reported a $2.5 billion third-quarter loss and could run out of cash in 2009 without government aid left drivers concerned about the brand whose cars are among the Sprint Cup's fastest.

Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said all he can do is his best to promote Chevrolets.

"I do what I'm supposed to do and do my job and try to do the best I can to sell cars for them on Mondays," he said. "I hope they've got the right people in the right places to turn it around and stop the bleeding. That's all you can hope for."

• Kevin Harvick won the Lucas Oil 150, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at PIR. With one race to go, leader Johnny Benson is three points ahead of Ron Hornaday.