Carpentier claims first pole in NASCAR

LOUDON, N.H., June 27 (UPI) -- Patrick Carpentier, given a break by the changing weather, won the first pole of his NASCAR career Friday.

After a rain delay of almost two hours made for cooler track conditions, Carpentier turned in a lap time of 29.349 seconds at the New Hampshire International Speedway. He will start out front Sunday in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.

Carpentier came to NASCAR from the now-defunct Champ Car series.

Veteran Bobby Labonte will start alongside Carpentier after posting a time of 29.512. Kevin Harvick and Scott Riggs will be in the second row.

Two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson will start 23rd and current points leader Kyle Busch will begin the race in 27th place.