SONOMA, Calif., June 18 (UPI) -- Kasey Kahne won the pole Friday for Sunday's Sprint Cup series road race at Infineon Raceway.
Kahne won on this track a year ago for his first road course victory. He turned in a qualifying lap of 93.893 miles per hour for his first pole of the season and the 17th of his career.
"We showed up with a great car and then made a few adjustments," Kahne said. "We haven't had a pole in a long time."
Kahne last started out front in a race at Infineon two years ago.
He is currently in his final year of a contract with Richard Petty Motorsports and is signed to replace Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Kahne said Friday his status for the 2011 season is uncertain.
Jimmie Johnson will start on the outside of the first row after qualifying 0.07 of a second behind Kahne. Kurt Busch was third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon.
The Top 10 was rounded out by Marcos Ambrose, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr.
