LONG POND, Pa., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson edged Mark Martin in qualifying for the second straight week Friday and won the pole for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500.
Johnson turned in a lap around the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway in 53.503 seconds -- or 168.215 mph. It was Johnson's third pole of the season and the 16th of his Sprint Cup career.
Johnson and Martin finished 1-2 during qualifying last week for the Brickyard 400. Johnson went on to win the race at the Indianapolis Speedway, an event marred by poor tire wear that forced caution flags to be displayed every 10-12 laps.
David Gilliland and Jeff Gordon will make up the second row for Sunday's race. Points leader Kyle Busch will start 27th.
Busch leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 253 points with six races remaining before the "chase for the cup" playoff series. Johnson, the two-time defending series champion, is in fourth place on the points list.
