Newman wins NASCAR pole

HAMPTON, Ga., March 12 (UPI) -- Ryan Newman won the pole Friday for Sunday's Golden Corral 500, the third straight time he will start up front at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Newman's Penske Racing Dodge Intrepid ran at lap at 193.575 miles per hour around the 1.54-mile track. This is Newman's second pole of the year after winning a series-high 11 last season.

Rookie Brian Vickers was second in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 192.634 mph. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson was third at 192.380 mph, followed by Jeff Gordon -- another Hendrick driver -- at 192.366 mph.

Elliott Sadler rounded out the top five in a Ford Taurus with a lap at 191.344 mph.