FONTANA, Calif., Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon won the 57th pole of his NASCAR career Friday, turning in the fastest qualifying time for Sunday's Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.
Gordon completed a lap around the track in 38.765 seconds. Kasey Kahne will start on the outside of the first row after a lap that was .045 of a second slower than Gordon's.
Friday's achievement leaves Gordon one pole win behind Bobby Allison, who is fifth on the all-time list. Gordon is the only driver to have won more than once at the California Speedway, having done so three times.
Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick qualified third and fourth. Harvick edged Martin last weekend to capture the Daytona 500.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified fifth and Nextel Cup rookie Juan Montoya was ninth.
Montoya moved to NASCAR this year from the Formula One series.
