Vickers on the pole at Brooklyn, Mich.

BROOKLYN, Mich., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Brian Vickers took the pole position Friday during qualifying for Sunday's 3M Performance 400 Sprint Cup auto race in Brooklyn, Mich.

To capture his first pole this season, Vickers steered his No. 83 Toyota around the 2-mile oval at the Michigan International Speedway in 38.189 seconds (188.536 mph).

"When we unloaded this car, it was just unbelievable," Vickers said. "I didn't know if they repaved the racetrack or the car was that good. Obviously, being early out contributed a little bit to that. We knew that in the back of our minds. We tried some stuff in practice, and it didn't work. Then we went back to where we started and was pretty happy with it."

Jimmie Johnson will start on the outside pole after recording a time of 38.497 mph. Elliott Sadler (38.590) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (38.643) will make up row two.

Jeff Gordon's fifth-place in qualifying gave Hendrick Motorsports three of the top-five starting positions.