Allmendinger qualifies first at Portland
A.J. Allmendinger was fired, got engaged, and landed a new job – all in the span of five days.
On Friday, he added to the past week’s drama by winning the provisional pole for the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland.
Allmendinger, now driving for Forsythe Championship Racing, had a fast lap of 58.378 seconds (121.114 mph) on the permanent road course at Portland International Raceway.
The second-best time was turned in by two-time defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais, who lapped the course in 58.464 seconds (120.936).
Paul Tracy, who has five podium finishes in Portland but has yet to win, ran the course in 59.121 seconds (119.592 mph).
The fast lap guarantees Allmendinger a front-row spot for Sunday’s race. He has one career pole.
For Allmendinger, the adventure started June 9, when he was let go by RuSport.
Over the weekend, he was in Niagara Falls, N.Y., to propose to his girlfriend, Toronto chiropractor Lynne Kushnirenk.
On Tuesday, he was hired by Forsythe.
“I thought my life was complex,” joked Tracy, Allmendinger’s new teammate.
“Got the news on (a) Friday, kind of got over the initial shock and was on the phone for a bit,” Allmendinger said. “(Then) I just thought, why not, let’s go get engaged in Niagara Falls. Got engaged, got hired on Tuesday.”
Allmendinger stole the provisional pole away from Bourdais by switching to alternate tires, which are softer and provide better grip than standard tires.
Kahne takes Nextel pole
Kasey Kahne grabbed the pole for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway with a lap of 185.644 mph, edging Jeff Gordon.
Brian Vickers, who has announced he’s leaving Hendrick Motorsports at the end of the season to pursue other options, was third at 184.995 in his Chevrolet.
Back in the field, Bill Lester will become only the second black driver to start in a NASCAR Cup race at the Michigan speedway on Sunday.
Willy T. Ribbs did it June 15, 1986. Lester will begin the race in 34th, courtesy of his qualifying lap of 180.845.
In March, Lester, 45, started 19th and finished 38th in the Atlanta Cup event, admitting he wanted to make the show and finish the race. Lester promises to run hard for 400 miles this time and finish on the lead lap.
“I’m living my dream,” said Lester, who drives the No. 23 Waste Management Dodge for Bill Davis Racing. “Last time, we hoped to qualify and earn the respect of our peers, but this time our objective is to compete.”
Lester, who also runs a Toyota in the Craftsman Truck Series for Davis and will race today at MIS, started his oval racing late after a successful road-racing career.