Busch cashes in by winning pole

Kyle Busch races beyond his years. He’s more superstitious than a lot of 23-year-olds, too.

The hottest driver in the Sprint Cup declined a $50 bill from outgoing Lowe’s Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler on Thursday, then continued his qualifying dominance at the track to earn the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 at Concord, N.C.

Busch laughed off the offer from Wheeler, who was patrolling pit road a day after announcing he’ll retire after 33 years at the track. Busch then turned in a lap of 185.433 mph to edge out last week’s All-Star race winner Kasey Kahne (185.300), who will join him on the front row Sunday for NASCAR’s longest race.

“He took a fifty out of his pocket and then he was signing it,” Busch said of Wheeler. “I said, ‘I don’t want that.’ He gave it to one my crew guys and I said, ‘Don’t take that.’ So I put it back in his pocket.”

Brian Vickers qualified third, giving Toyota two of the top three spots. Greg Biffle will start fourth, followed by David Ragan and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Patrick enjoys media day

An exhausted Danica Patrick spent nearly 50 minutes smiling, joking and explaining everything from her future plans to her new image.

The 26-year-old never even yawned.

Yes, the first woman to reach Victory Lane in a major race and the unquestioned queen of the Indy Racing League, actually enjoyed playing the role of deft politician during Indianapolis 500 media day at Indianapolis.

“This is something I have to take advantage of because you guys are watching, and the whole world is watching,” said Patrick, who will start fifth in Sunday’s race. “I’m not one of those drivers who sits back and says ‘I’m tired, it’s not worth it,’ because I know one day I won’t be popular.”

Kanaan stays in background

Brazilian Tony Kanaan was happy to allow teammate Patrick to steal the show. He’s saving his best material for Sunday.

Over the past five years, Kanaan, 33, has finished 12th, fifth, eighth, second and third at Indy, and watched teammates Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti pull into the winner’s circle.

This year Kanaan’s starting sixth, the worst qualifying position he’s had in seven Indy starts, and will be on the outside of Patrick in the second row.

Those who are counting him out, however, might be making a big mistake.

“Let’s put it this way,” he said. “They can talk to her as much as they want, but following the race, you’re going to have to come talk to me.”