Mears guns for another pole at The Brickyard

Edwards to backup car after tire bursts in practice

INDIANAPOLIS -- Casey Mears looks poised to win a second consecutive Brickyard 400 pole after pacing Nextel Cup Series practice Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Casey Mears Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Practice was rained out Friday and intermittent showers threatened again Saturday. But after a brief weather-induced stoppage during the first session, the rain relented long enough for the Nextel Cup Series to an uninterrupted 90-minute practice.

Mears, who set the track qualifying record last year at more than 186 mph, coursed the famed 2.5-mile track Saturday at 184.843 mph.

Scott Riggs was second, two-tenths of a second off of Mears' pace. Kasey Kahne was third, Ken Schrader fourth and Brian Vickers fifth.

Allstate 400 at The Brickyard Practice Speeds Weekend Schedule Qualifying Order Entry List

Mike Bliss, whose No. 0 Chevrolet, then driven by Ward Burton, started the 2004 Brickyard 400 on the outside of the front row, was sixth. Michael Waltrip, Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler and Matt Kenseth ranked seven-through-10.

Defending race winner and four-time Brickyard 400 champion Jeff Gordon was 27th in practice, while two-time Brickyard winner Dale Jarrett was 30th.

Nextel Cup Series points leader Jimmie Johnson was 11th, and Indiana natives Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman just behind him in 12th and 14th, respectively.

Several drivers that must qualify on time made up the bottom half of the top-20, including Bobby Hamilton, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Mike Skinner and 2002 Brickyard winner Bill Elliot.

Carl Edwards was forced into a backup car for qualifying after the right front tire on the No. 99 Ford burst, badly damaging the right front fender on his car.

"It didn't go down, it just exploded," Edwards radioed his crew. "I didn't do anything, just ... boom."

Bud Pole Qualifying for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard begins at 4:10 p.m. ET.