Motorsports

Johnson holds his form at Daytona

The series champ gets the pole for the 500 as surprises rule qualifying.

By Brant James, Times Staff Writer
Published February 11, 2008

Daytona 500 pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson, right, and No. 2 starter Michael Waltrip have three 500 victories between them, two by Waltrip.
	[Getty Images]

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip signs autographs after clinching the second spot in Sunday's Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH - Speedweeks has already turned into Hendrickweeks. But, really, aren't they all these days?

A day after Rick Hendrick's newest driver - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - won the Budweiser Shootout with three teammates close behind, two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson won the pole for Sunday's 50th Daytona 500, his first in this race since his 2002 rookie season.

Johnson's lap of 187.075 mph around the 2.5-mile superspeedway in the No.48 Chevrolet locked his starting position. Michael Waltrip's 186.734 mph revolution in the No.55 Toyota clinched the second spot.

The rest of the 43-car field will sort itself in two 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday as those who finished 2007 in the top 35 in owner points fight for starting position and those not guaranteed spots battle for up to five remaining berths.

Waltrip's teammate, Zephryhills' David Reutimann, among those who needed to qualify on speed, assured a place by qualifying fourth. Toyota posted three in the top five in its second Daytona 500 campaign.

Waltrip found redemption after his car was found to have an illegal substance in its fuel system during qualifying inspections last season. NASCAR impounded the car and levied major sanctions, creating a controversial beginning to what became a demoralizing year for his first-year team.

Waltrip, the 2001 and 2003 Daytona 500 winner, thought he'd been among the few to actually better the Hendrick contingent in something.

"There's no way they're as happy as me. I'm second, but I'm first when it comes to happiness," Waltrip said. "I mean, they woke up this morning knowing what they were doing next Sunday. I woke up in a fog."

Johnson offered a chilling observation, saying his team has gotten even better since its last title, and crew chief Chad Knaus sounded like this was just another day's work.

"We're just racin', man," he said.

Even the heart-warming story of the afternoon had a Hendrick subtext. Former Lakeland resident Joe Nemechek, driving for the one-car Furniture Row team, qualified third in the No.78 Chevrolet, clinching a spot in the 500. His team leases engines from Hendrick.

In the convoluted system that determines the field, the remaining cars not assured a spot - such as Kurt Busch through a past champion's provisional - must race their way in by finishing in the top two of their qualifying race on Thursday. Among them are three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett.

Reutimann failed to lock himself into the race on his qualifying speed last season and required a myriad of fortuitous events in the duels to make the race, where he started and finished 40th after crashing late.

He felt a lot better before even entering the car Sunday.

"I felt really good when we came in the pit gate," he said after his run, though checking qualifying speeds as other cars zipped past. "It's just a different mentality around our shop and a different feel than what we had in the past."

As Reutimann finished media obligations on pit road after a lap of 186.463 mph, his cousin and spotter, Shawn, called to him, pointed to the No.00 Toyota, then raised two fingers. He had an idea why the car slinked through the air so well on a blustery afternoon.

"I waxed it twice last night," he said. "Super Turtle Wax."

Now Reutimann can relax and polish up his starting position on Thursday. But it's still Hendrickweeks. So his cousin better bring a buffer on Wednesday night.

Speedweeks highlights

Thursday: Sprint Cup Gatorade Duels, 2 and 4 TV: Speed

Friday: Truck series Chevy Silverado 250, 8 TV: Speed

Saturday: Nationwide Series Camping World 300, 1:15 TV: ESPN2

Sunday: Sprint Cup Daytona 500, 3:30 TV: Ch. 13

[Last modified February 10, 2008, 23:43:47]