Jimmie Johnson wins NASCAR pole

FONTANA, Calif., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson won the pole Friday for Sunday's running of the Pepsi 500 at the Auto Club Speedway.

Johnson, the two-time defending Sprint Cup series champion, turned in a lap of 39.912 seconds around the two-mile oval.

It was the fourth pole of the season for Johnson and the 17th of his career.

A.J. Allmendinger qualified a career-best second after posting a time of 40.076 seconds.

Jeff Gordon (40.097) and Kasey Kahne (40.188) will start on the second row.

Points leader Kyle Busch qualified 11th and Carl Edwards, who is second in the points chase, will start 26th.