LONG POND, Pa. --- At 49, Mark Martin has found new life inside a race car. He's tried walking away several times, but like a punch-drunk boxer who doesn't know any better, he keeps making comebacks.

Martin starts on the outside pole for today's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway with hopes of finding Victory Lane for the first time in 44 career starts at the unique 2.5-mile, triangle-shaped racetrack.

If not, he plans to return again next year and try again.

Martin said his part-time schedule at Dale Earnhardt Inc. in the No. 8 Chevrolet has re- energized his passion for going fast -- so fast he will return to a full-time schedule next season.

"I am 100 percent rejuvenated," he said. "I feel differently toward it than I did when I was so burned out from 19 years straight. I love it. This is where my friends are. This is where I belong."

Martin has been coming to Pocono since 1982, Ronald Reagan's second year as president. Despite leading 381 laps during his career, his best finish has been second -- six times.

"Right now we're having a blast," Martin said. "We need to improve the race setup just a little bit."

Jimmie Johnson, who won last week's race at Indianapolis, will start on the pole after a lap of 168.215 mph. Martin was clocked at 167.560.

Rain washed out both practice sessions Saturday, so today's start (2 p.m, ESPN) will be the first time drivers have been on the track since Friday's qualifying session.

If qualifying is any indication, however, Martin said Johnson is a man to beat.

"The field should be very frightened of what I have seen the last two weeks out of that group," Martin said of Johnson's team.

Martin said he doesn't follow any other sport, but he admitted to being somewhat intrigued by the on-going saga between Green Bay and Brett Favre. He might be one of the few people who truly understands why it's so difficult for Favre to call it quits.

"He's kind of in a bad spot. He wants to play and it sounds to me like if he wants to play, he gets to sit on the bench or nothing, kind of. You know what? Every decision that every human being makes is not always going to be right. Maybe he didn't make the right decision at one time and that put himself in a box. I just feel sorry for him because I know he still wants to play. I wish he was able to play.

"I'm lucky to be able to do what I want to do. That's why I feel for Brett. For me, I just really feel fortunate that I'm physically and mentally up to doing what I really love, and I have the opportunity to do that."