AVONDALE, Ariz. --- Despite losing 111 points from his lead in the Chase for the Championship a week ago, Jimmie Johnson still brought a lot of confidence to Phoenix International Raceway for Sunday's race.
Not only has Johnson won three of the past four races in the Arizona desert, he refuses to believe bad luck can strike two weeks in a row.
"I don't think, you know, anybody's really safe, especially how you can run side-by-side here in (Turns) 1 and 2," Johnson said after qualifying third for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. "So I do have concern and worry about contact or something out of my control taking place again. I mean, I think we all fear that.
"But I find some confidence knowing that everybody's going to deal with that. I don't think lightning can strike two weeks in a row."
In 12 races at Phoenix, Johnson has finished seventh or better 10 times. His average finish is fifth, making it his second-best track on the schedule. Martinsville, another flat track with many of the same characteristics as Phoenix, is his best with a 5.1 average.
Since Johnson has three wins, a second and a pair of fourth-place finishes in his past six races at Phoenix, Johnson knows Sunday's race (3:15 p.m., ABC-Ch. 6) will be his best chance to protect his 73-point lead over Mark Martin. Martin, however, won at Phoenix in April. So far, he's not as confident for his return.
"It will never be as easy as it was here last April," Martin said. "That was a night race. This is a day race and that changes things."
Martin Truex Jr. won the pole with a fast lap of 135.120 mph. Kurt Busch, who won last week at Texas, was second at 134.579.
"This is one of those places where if you don't drive it hard enough (coming off the second turn), it's not good," Truex said.
Reach Don Coble at don.coble@morris.com.
At Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, Ariz.
Lap length: 1 miles
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 135.120.
2. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 134.579.
3. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 134.454.
4. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 134.293.
5. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 134.228.
6. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 134.223.
7. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 134.173.
8. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 134.078.
9. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 134.028.
10. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 134.023.
11. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 133.949.
12. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 133.924.
13. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 133.879.
14. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 133.874.
15. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 133.864.
16. (44) AJ Allmendinger, Ford, 133.759.
17. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 133.72.
18. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 133.7.
19. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 133.68.
20. (71) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 133.571.
21. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 133.551.
22. (7) Robby Gordon, Toyota, 133.417.
23. (13) Max Papis, Toyota, 133.403.
24. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 133.24.
25. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 133.215.
26. (12) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 133.161.
27. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 133.151.
28. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 133.121.
29. (09) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 133.087.
30. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 133.062.
31. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 132.93.
32. (66) Dave Blaney, Toyota, 132.925.
33. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 132.812.
34. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 132.783.
35. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 132.763.
36. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 132.65.
37. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 132.333.
38. (36) Michael McDowell, Toyota, 132.275.
39. (96) Erik Darnell, Ford, 132.178.
40. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, Owner Points.
41. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, Owner Points.
42. (34) John Andretti, Chevrolet, Owner Points.
43. (37) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 132.091.
Failed to Qualify
44. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 132.062.
45. (70) Kevin Conway, Chevrolet, 131.892.
46. (02) Brandon Ash, Dodge, 130.662.
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