Rain puts Johnson in front row

Even rain couldn’t slow the momentum of Nextel Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson, who was awarded the pole when qualifying was rained out Friday at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.

The front-row start for Johnson came five days after he became the only driver to win three straight Coca-Cola 600s.

Johnson will line up in the top spot for the first time this season, holding a 71-point advantage over Greg Biffle at the start of Sunday’s MBNA 400.

Biffle got the outside of the front row on the basis of car-owner points.

Elliott Sadler will start third alongside Ryan Newman, who has won three of the last four Dover races. The third row belongs to Jeff Gordon, a four-time Dover winner tied with Biffle for the most victories this season, and Tony Stewart.

Champ Car

Jimmy Vasser and A.J. Allmendinger will share the front row for today’s Road Runner 225 at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis., the first time Americans have qualified 1-2 in the Champ Car World Series in eight years.

Vasser took his ninth career pole with a lap of 176.235 mph, followed by Allmendinger, last year’s top rookie, at 176.001.

Indy Racing League

Danica Patrick didn’t win the Indianapolis 500, but her performance helped ABC get its best ratings since 1996.

Sunday’s race got a national rating of 6.5 with an 18 share, up 59 percent from last year’s 4.7 with an 11 share.

The spike in interest can be attributed to the presence of Patrick, who became the first female to lead a lap at the Indy 500. She finished fourth.