Vickers wins NASCAR pole

JOLIET, Ill., July 9 (UPI) -- Brian Vickers won his fifth Sprint Cup pole of the season Thursday, turning in the best qualifying time for Saturday's LifeLock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Vickers turned in a time of 29.322 seconds for one lap around the 1.5-mile oval. He has had the best time in each of the last three qualifying sessions held in NASCAR's top series.

After Vickers won poles in California and Michigan, qualifying was rained out the last two weeks in New Hampshire and at Daytona Beach.

Scott Speed was second fastest, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and Clint Boyer.

Points' leader Tony Stewart qualified 32nd.