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Johnson captures pole

Jimmie Johnson waits to see if the pole he won Friday at Martinsville would stand up until the end. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Jimmie Johnson waits to see if the pole he won Friday at Martinsville would stand up until the end. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Jimmie Johnson showed that Hendrick Motorsports is ready to keep its domination at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway going with a pole-winning run Friday.

Johnson toured the .538-mile oval at 96.736 mph in his Hendrick Chevrolet, barely beating Jamie McMurray for the top spot in Sunday’s Direct TV 500 Nextel Cup race.

McMurray circled NASCAR’s shortest track in his Ford at 96.696. Tony Stewart, the track record-holder at a speed of 98.083, was third, this time at 96.632.

The pole is the ninth of Johnson’s career and the first for Hendrick this season, and it came at the track where Johnson’s teammate, Jeff Gordon, won both races during the 2005 season.

Gordon, a seven-time winner at Martinsville, qualified eighth at 96.288.

For Johnson, a fresh start was eagerly anticipated. He finished 30th at Bristol Motor Speedway last Sunday, and fell from first to third in the Nextel Cup standings.

“It’s nice to get back to the track and perform well,” he said, especially since his qualifying effort earned him the chance to pick the first stall on pit road.

“In some ways, I think pit road is more treacherous here than anywhere else, and having that first pit pick – it’s the biggest advantage, in my opinion,” he said.

Martinsville’s pit road is not only narrow, but bends sharply at each end.

Stewart gave himself one chance, locking up the brakes when he went too deeply into the corner on his second lap.

Patrick back on track

Danica Patrick, who missed the Indy Racing League’s first race at Homestead after teammate Paul Dana died in a prerace practice, was strapped into her Honda-powered Panoz IndyCar, driving around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit in the opening practice for Sunday’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dario Franchitti led the way in practices with a lap of 1 minute, 2.797 seconds (103.190 mph).

He was followed by Scott Dixon at 1:02.952 (102.936), Tony Kanaan at 1:03.145 (102.620), Helio Castroneves at 1:03.157 (102.602) and Buddy Rice at 1:03.309 (102.355). Patrick was 13th at 1:04.188 (100.954).

Button grabs pole

Jenson Button earned his third career Formula One pole position, recording the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia.

It was the Honda driver’s first pole since last year’s Canadian GP. His time was 1 minute, 25.229 seconds on the 3.3-mile Albert Park circuit.