Johnson Claims Pole at Brickyard 400

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The last time Jimmie Johnson raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his day ended in a fiery wreck. His next race at the famed track will begin from an unfamiliar position - at the front. Johnson hopes to cap an impressive weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by winning Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Johnson posted the fastest time in Saturday morning's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying session, lapping the historic 2 1/2-mile track in 49.52 seconds at a speed of 181.763 miles per hour. It will mark the first time in seven career starts that Johnson will start from the pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Despite winning this race two years ago, Johnson traditionally has struggled at this track.

The two-time reigning series champion was involved in multiple crashes at last year's race, and he was forced to exit his burning car as flames entered the cockpit. "Every mental coach in the country right now is going to love to hear us, but positive thoughts bring positive things," said Johnson, who finished 39th in last year's race and has placed outside the top 35 in three of his last four races here. "We are off to a good start, so hopefully we don't find any negativity out there. It is our turn to do well this year."

One day after dominating in practice, Johnson picked up where he left off Saturday morning. It was the fourth pole this season and 17th career for Johnson, whose No. 48 car has headlined a stable of dominant Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets this weekend. Johnson posted the fastest lap time during Friday's practice when he clocked 49.987 seconds in the afternoon session. "Only a win on Sunday would make this weekend better," he said. "I am grateful for such a great race car these guys prepared."

Johnson won this event in 2006, when he dominated the field to join Dale Jarrett as the only drivers in NASCAR history to win both the Daytona 500 and the Allstate 400 in the same season. "When I look back at the Daytona 500, the Brickyard, and the championship, there was so much that went on that year that it's hard to really look back and savor one aspect of it," Johnson said. "I'd love to experience it again."