Newman will start the 600 on the outside pole

Pole-winner exercises option to start second at Charlotte

Ryan Newman's Penske Racing outfit has exercised the option to start on the outside of the front row in the Coca-Cola 600, crew chief Matt Borland confirmed Saturday.

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"Yep, we're going to do it," Borland said. "The bottom of Turns 1 and 2 isn't real good, so we're going to start on the outside tomorrow."

Per the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series rulebook, the pole-winning team has the option to flip-flop starting positions with the second-place qualifier and start in the outside line if they so desire.

"I didn't even realize it was an option until yesterday," Borland said. "After what we saw last weekend, I think it'll be a good thing."

Borland wasn't the only one unaware of the rule. After Newman blistered the track record at nearly 193 mph Thursday evening, he was asked whether or not he'd choose the outside line.

He, too, was unaware he had the option.

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"It's a no-brainer," Newman said.

Though rare, this has happened before, and in fact happened just last weekend in the Nextel Open when pole-winner Mike Bliss chose the outside line over the traditional pole position, leaving second-place qualifier Kyle Busch to start in the typical pole slot.

"I thought they just did it in the Open last week because it wasn't a points race," Borland said. "There's never been a place where it would be an advantage. I don't think we'll do it again, unless we win some more poles here."

Jeff Gordon will start in the traditional pole position in the Coca-Cola 600.