MARTINSVILLE, Va., April 16 (UPI) -- After sweeping both races at Martinsville Speedway in 2003, Jeff Gordon won the pole Friday for Sunday's NASCAR Advance Auto Parts 500.
Gordon drew an early qualification attempt and drove his Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a lap at 93.502 miles per hour around the .526-mile track.
It was the 47th career pole in 373 Nextel Cup starts for Gordon and his first since October, also at Martinsville.
Gordon has won the pole five times here. Despite his success at the flat short oval, it was not one of his favorites when he first arrived in the series in 1993.
"This was the No. 1 hardest place for me to learn," Gordon said. "It's something about this place. It's not very smooth, it's really flat, it requires a lot of patience. This place will send your mind spinning."
Jamie McMurray was second in a Dodge Intrepid at 93.239 mph. Newman was third at 93.102 mph in a Dodge.
