Fog and rain covered Pocono Raceway in the morning hours, forcing NASCAR to cancel both Nextel Cup practices sessions. Credit: Autostock

Rain cancels practice sessions at Pocono

Drivers to rely on first practice and qualifying for setups

LONG POND, Pa. -- Steady rain all Saturday morning at Pocono Raceway wiped out all Nextel Cup Series practice for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500.

But according to former Pocono winner Jeremy Mayfield, the 90 minutes the 43 starters got on Friday while preparing for Bud Pole Qualifying should be plenty.

Pennsylvania 500 Lineup Pos. Driver Speed Time 1. D. Hamlin 169.827 52.995 2. R. Newman 169.418 53.123 3. K. Kahne 169.345 53.146 4. B. Vickers 169.310 53.157 5. J. Gordon 169.265 53.171 6. J. Burton 168.970 53.264 7. Ku. Busch 168.833 53.307 8. Ky. Busch 168.656 53.363 9. S. Riggs 168.580 53.387 10. Nemechek 168.297 53.477 • Complete lineup, click here Bud Pole winnerDenny Hamlin captures the Bud Pole at Pocono Raceway Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"It doesn't really mean that much that we didn't get those two sessions in [Saturday] morning," Mayfield said. "All that we'd really do is work on making it as adjustable as we can, by doing things like putting spring rubbers in the rear.

"We all kind of know already what the racetrack's going to do, and how it's going to change through 500 miles here. We just need to put ourselves in a position where we can react as we need to, and then just work on it all day."

Heavy fog delayed the opening of the initial session, which was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET.

When it began raining, radar displays at the track obviously indicated no track activity could be held Saturday morning so the eight drivers who had to make the trip to Martinsville Speedway to compete in the Goody's 250 Busch Series race began leaving.

Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were the first to leave, on Harvick's Lear 31. Ultimately, they were joined in Virginia by Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson and Roush Racing teammates Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards.

All except Busch, Sorenson and Hamlin were able to qualify their own cars.

On Sunday, Hamlin -- who won last month's Pocono 500 here -- is scheduled to lead the field to the green flag just after 2:05 p.m. ET.