Gordon takes Atlanta pole, Earnhardt to start second

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Jeff Gordon put last Sunday's bone-jarring late-race wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway behind him and streaked around Atlanta Motor Speedway at 185.251 mph to grab the pole for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500.

Gordon was the only driver to top 185 mph in Friday's qualifying session, as he powered the No. 24 Chevrolet around the 1.54-mile track in 29.927 seconds (watch video). Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., was the only other driver to exceed 184 mph, as he claimed the second starting position with a lap at 184.862 mph and 29.990 seconds. (watch video).

Martin Truex Jr. (183.807 mph) was third-fastest in a session twice interrupted by light rain. Carl Edwards (183.297 mph), winner of the past two Cup races, will start fourth, with Bobby Labonte (183.248 mph) fifth. Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin claimed starting positions six through 10.

"I'm surprised it didn't rain, and I'm surprised [the lap] held up," said Gordon, who won the 64th pole of his career and his second at Atlanta. "Now it's time for us to get where we need to be in the points."

Gordon (currently 23rd in points) was slow in practice (speeds) earlier in the day but recovered to post the fastest lap during qualifying, despite difficulty with the handling.

"The car, the tire and this racetrack aren't matching up that well," he said.

Earnhardt bobbled coming to the green flag, and that might have cost him a chance to overtake Gordon, who had gone out earlier in the session.

"It's really hard to tell whether you think you've got a good lap going or not," Earnhardt said. "Even in practice [earlier on Friday] when we were the fastest one on top of the chart, I didn't think my lap was comfortable or fast -- it was wobbly, loose and sliding the car really hard.

"It's hard to tell. When I didn't beat him, I thought, 'Where do I think I lost it?' and I think I lost it coming to the green, actually."

Joe Nemechek (17th at 171.747 mph) led the group of 13 drivers forced to make the race on speed. Patrick Carpentier, Michael Waltrip, Kurt Busch, David Reutimann, Mike Skinner, Brian Vickers also qualified on speed, and Dale Jarrett made the field by using a past champion's provisional.

Ken Schrader, Bill Elliott, Johnny Benson, Burney Lamar and John Andretti failed to qualify.