KIDWCKED
07-31-2010, 09:29 PM
c/p By Sporting News Wire Service
July 30, 2010
07:04 PM EDT
LONG POND, Pa. -- Tony Stewart, seeking his first victory of 2010, is used to starting up front at Pocono Raceway -- but this time he earned it during time trials.
With a lap at 171.393 mph (52.511 seconds) Friday, Stewart claimed the pole for Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the 2.5-mile triangular track. He edged Juan Montoya (171.096 mph, 52.602 seconds) for the top starting spot.
Stewart claimed the pole for both 2009 Pocono races under rainout rules, which order the field according to ownes' points, but those poles don't count in official statistics. In the June race last year, Stewart actually started from the rear of the field after crashing during practice and going to a backup car.
Though Stewart won that race, he hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's incident when the cars take to the track for a one-hour practice session Saturday morning. Stewart has two poles this season after winning none in the previous four years.
"I'm afraid the sky's going to be falling when I go outside," Stewart said. "I'm a little surprised by it myself. I'm not a qualifier. I admit that's always been my weak suit.
"But, man, if you're going to pick a place where you want to have good track position, this is it. It's really important here at Pocono. If I don't go out like I did last year and trash the thing in Happy Hour, we'll still have a good starting spot."
July 30, 2010
07:04 PM EDT
LONG POND, Pa. -- Tony Stewart, seeking his first victory of 2010, is used to starting up front at Pocono Raceway -- but this time he earned it during time trials.
With a lap at 171.393 mph (52.511 seconds) Friday, Stewart claimed the pole for Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the 2.5-mile triangular track. He edged Juan Montoya (171.096 mph, 52.602 seconds) for the top starting spot.
Stewart claimed the pole for both 2009 Pocono races under rainout rules, which order the field according to ownes' points, but those poles don't count in official statistics. In the June race last year, Stewart actually started from the rear of the field after crashing during practice and going to a backup car.
Though Stewart won that race, he hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's incident when the cars take to the track for a one-hour practice session Saturday morning. Stewart has two poles this season after winning none in the previous four years.
"I'm afraid the sky's going to be falling when I go outside," Stewart said. "I'm a little surprised by it myself. I'm not a qualifier. I admit that's always been my weak suit.
"But, man, if you're going to pick a place where you want to have good track position, this is it. It's really important here at Pocono. If I don't go out like I did last year and trash the thing in Happy Hour, we'll still have a good starting spot."