Broken crankshaft slows Johnson in qualifying

\CONCORD, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson was offering consolatory pats on the back to each of his crewmen Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway when Ryan Newman waltzed over to discuss what went wrong.

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Johnson was more than 1 mph faster than anyone else in Friday's lone practice session, and entered Bud Pole Qualifying with every intention of supplanting Newman from atop the speed chart.

But as he shifted through the gearbox leaving pit road the crankshaft failed on the Lowe's Chevrolet, securing the pole for his buddy. And as the best rookie class in NASCAR history engaged in conversation, Johnson could muster but two words:

"Dang you."

	Johnson has scored just one top-five finish in 2003. Credit: Autostock

While Newman starts on the pole for the third time this year, Johnson is relegated to a provisional starting position for the second time in 2003. He also started 37th at Rockingham in February.

"I was coming up through the gears trying to leave pit road and something failed in the engine," said Johnson, who ranks sixth in the championship point standings. "We're disappointed. I know the guys are, but it's just part of it."

If there is any consolation, Johnson has plenty of time to make up the ground lost by Friday's part failure and is one of the most proficient talents in the Winston Cup Series at LMS.

He won The Winston last weekend and was stellar in both The Winston and the Coca-Cola 600 last season. He led the most laps in last year's Coca-Cola 600 in the same car he's driving this weekend.

"I'm glad we found it now instead of halfway into a 600-mile race," Johnson said.