Gordon wins NASCAR pole in Phoenix

PHOENIX, April 22 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon won the pole Friday for Saturday night's NASCAR Subway Fresh 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway.

Gordon went around the one-mile oval in 26.931 seconds. It was his first pole of 2005 and the 53rd of his career, but he has never won a Nextel Cup race in Phoenix.

Kurt Busch, who turned in a time of 27.016 seconds, will start alongside Gordon while Greg Biffle and Bobby Labonte will make up the second row.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson will start 12th. He has a 135-point lead over Biffle, who won last week in Fort Worth.