Gordon leads Hendrick sweep of Talladega qualifying

Gordon leads Hendrick sweep of Talladega qualifying


By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(April 16, 2011)

TALLADEGA, Ala.—Forget all the early-season talk about the power of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and Roush Yates Engines—at least where Saturday’s qualifying session at Talladega Superspeedway is concerned.
Paced by a pole-winning effort from six-time Talladega winner Jeff Gordon, who toured the 2.66-mile track in 53.723 seconds (178.248 mph), the power of Hendrick Motorsports engines swept the top four starting spots during time trials for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the eighth event of the season.
The Coors Light pole award was Gordon’s first of the season, second at Talladega and the 70th of his career, breaking a tie for third all time with Cale Yarborough. Jimmie Johnson (177.844 mph) qualified second, followed by teammates Mark Martin (177.807) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (177.765).
Paul Menard (177.702) nailed down the fifth starting spot, and Landon Cassill, whose Phoenix Racing Chevrolet also sports Hendrick power, qualified sixth at 177.685 mph.
A smaller restrictor plate—with openings of 15/16 inches (down 1/16 inch from the plates run at Talladega last fall)—slowed qualifying speeds to a relative crawl. Gordon’s pole speed was more than 6 mph slower than the 184.640 mph Juan Pablo Montoya ran last fall.
Montoya’s run was the slowest for a pole winner before Saturday.
Mike Skinner, Tony Raines and Michael McDowell failed to qualify for the 43-car field.