Ryan Newman in the defending race winner. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Newman blazes way to record pole at MIS

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- It took Ryan Newman just over 37 seconds Saturday to grab his fifth pole of the season and first at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR's "Rocketman,'' well on the way to becoming the best qualifier in the history of the stock car series, was the 43rd of 47 qualifiers when he turned a lap of 194.232 mph on the 2-mile, high-banked oval.

The lap -- timed at 37.069 seconds -- was easily good enough for his 32nd pole in 104 races.

	Casey Mears earned his best start of the year. Credit: Chris Stanford/Getty Images
	BATMAN BEGINS 400 •   Lineup •   Happy Hour Speeds •   1st Practice Speeds

Newman, a two-time Michigan winner and the defending race champion, was one of 26 drivers who bettered the previous qualifying record of 191.149, set in August 2000 by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Tony Stewart set the target with a lap of 193.512, but said he expected Newman would "turn a speed never seen here before in a stock car.''

Newman was up to the task. The only qualifying lap faster this season was a 194.690 by Newman at Atlanta in March.

"I'm just happy about that lap,'' Newman said. "The track is probably in the best condition it's ever been here for qualifying.''

The first person to congratulate Newman was his father, Greg.

"I told my dad that I'd like to give him a win tomorrow for Father's Day, but I'd try to give him a pole today in case we don't win the race,'' said Newman, who has not won since last September at Dover.

Stewart wound up third when Casey Mears followed Newman onto the track and turned a lap of 193.757 to grab the outside spot on the all-Dodge front row for Sunday's Batman Begins 400 Nextel Cup race.

Kasey Kahne, driving another Dodge, will start alongside Stewart's Chevrolet at 193.123, followed by the Charger of Kahne's teammate Jeremy Mayfield at 193.086 and the Chevrolets of Bobby Labonte and Brian Vickers at 193.055 and 192.818.

Rounding out the top 10 were Robby Gordon at 192.771, Jeff Gordon at 192.658, and seven-time Michigan winner Bill Elliott at 192.658.

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson was 16th at 192.313, while fan favorite Earnhardt qualified 42nd at 188.260 but will start 41st by virtue of owner points.

Dale Jarrett, who qualified 14th, said rules changes for 2005 are the reason for the higher speeds.

"It's a combination of the things that we did to try to make the racing better, as far as putting it more in the driver's hands by cutting (rear) spoiler off and going to a softer tire,'' Jarrett said. "So, when you get in qualifying trim, that only makes for a faster package.''