Johnson tops final practice at Pocono; Kenseth better

LONG POND, Pa. -- Topping the speed chart in the final practice for the Pennsylvania 500 on Saturday may help Jimmie Johnson rebound into high gear for Sunday's race.

The No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports' driver is coming off back-to-back crashes at Chicago and Indianapolis; however, Johnson led Saturday's session with a fast lap of 165.804 mph (54.281 seconds) while Tony Stewart of Joe Gibbs Racing was second-quickest with a lap of 164.591 mph (54.681).

Ron Malec, pulling double duty as crew and car chief for the 48 since the suspension of crew chief Chad Knaus, said the fast practice and positive qualifying position (seventh) is a good confidence builder for his driver.

"This will help shake off what happened the last two weeks," Malec said. "Crashes can really take a toll on a driver."

Johnson is happy with the car overall, Malec said, but complained the car was a bit loose which is something other drivers in the garage complained of at the end of the session, as well.

Darian Grubb, crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports' driver Casey Mears, said the track lacked grip at the end of the day as track temperatures increased.

Mears was relegated to a backup car Friday after practice when he sustained right-rear bumper damage. But a new car proved to be good luck for the No. 25 as Mears qualified eighth for Sunday's race and closed the final practice session third-quickest with a lap of 164.396 mph (54.746).

Matt Kenseth faired better in practice than Friday's qualifying session when the Roush Racing driver qualified 37th. As for final practice, the No. 17 posted the sixth-fastest lap at 163.914 mph (54.907). Kenseth also had the second-best lap in the morning practice.

On the way out of the track, Kenseth's crew chief, Robbie Reiser, stopped to sign a few autographs and said his driver was more or less happy with the car.

"It's a little loose in [Turn] 3 but we'll get it fixed by [Sunday]," Reiser said. "We are making some gains and that is good going into Sunday's race."

Penske Racing driver Kurt Busch and Robert Yates driver David Gilliland rounded out the top five in the final practice. Busch, who qualified second, led the morning practice.