Newman on Bud Pole for record sixth time

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Ryan Newman just loves to win those Bud Pole Awards. This time, he did it in record fashion.

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Newman toured around the one-mile oval at Phoenix International Raceway in 132.655 mph. It was Newman's sixth Bud Pole of the year, which broke Davey Allison's record for most Bud Poles by a rookie in the Winston Cup Series.

"Knowing that John Andretti was as fast as he was worried me some," Newman said. "We unloaded pretty fast and it just felt comfortable from the start.

	Ryan Newman is gunning for his second Winston Cup win. His other -- at Loudon in September -- also came on a one-mile oval. Credit: Autostock

"I've raced here in other types of cars. But, the walls are still in the same place and the asphalt is the same.

"This is a team sport, so breaking the record is just as much theirs (crew) as it is mine. But, I guess it goes down in the record books as mine. I'm just happy to have broken the record.

"Anytime there's an award out there, we go for it."

John Andretti, the polesitter here in 1999, was second-quickest at 132.587 mph.

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"I could have made up more time going into Turn 1," Andretti said. "I didn't drive it in quite far enough there. The car is exceptional, at least in qualifying trim, and I hope it stays that way for the race trim.

"Last year we qualified well, but we raced horrible. I'd like to not do that again this year."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued his second-half surge by qualified third, tops among Chevrolet drivers.

	John Andretti is looking to give Petty Enterprises its second win at Phoenix. Bobby Hamilton won at Phoenix in 1996. Credit: Autostock

"I thought I could have run a little bit better lap, the car was great," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We really improved from practice to get a little more comfortable. I worked on trying to get around Turns 1 and 2 a little bit better because my line wasn't that good.

"I think the car could have picked up some if I had done it just right.

"Looking at some of the past races here, it's important to start in the front. You need to get under guys to get by them at this track."

Rounding out the top 10 starters were Jeff Gordon, Dave Blaney, Kenny Wallace, Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Jeremy Mayfield and Jamie McMurray.

Points leader Tony Stewart will start 16th in Sunday's race.

Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Green, Bobby Hamilton, Mike Wallace, Derrike Cope and Tony Raines took provisionals. Failing to make the race were Ted Musgrave, Jack Sprague, Brett Bodine, Jerry Robertson, Morgan Shepherd, Jeff Jefferson, Lance Hooper and Mike Harmon.