Montoya turns qualifying program around with Fontana pole

Montoya turns qualifying program around with Fontana pole

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(March 25, 2011)
FONTANA, Calif.—Juan Pablo Montoya found a quick cure for his qualifying woes Friday at Auto Club Speedway.
Montoya improved dramatically on his 23.5 average starting position this season in winning the Coors Light pole award for Sunday’s Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup race at the 2-mile track.
Turning a lap in 38.992 seconds (184.653 mph), Montoya was the only driver to break 39 seconds in time trials for the fifth race of the season. Denny Hamlin claimed the second starting spot with a lap at 184.270 mph.
Joey Logano (184.134) put his No. 20 Toyota in the third spot on the grid, and Regan Smith (184.030) improved his series-best qualifying average to 5.8 with a fourth-place effort.
Tony Stewart and David Ragan will start Sunday’s race from the fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
Series points leader Kurt Busch will take the green flag from the 23rd position, with second-place Carl Edwards starting 18th.
Forty-three drivers made qualifying attempts, the fewest in the Cup series this season, but enough for a full field.