Gordon wins pole for Kobalt 500

HAMPTON, Ga., March 7 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon circled the 1.54-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway in under 30 seconds Sunday and won the pole for the Kobalt Tools 500.

Gordon's car was clocked at 29.927 seconds and 185.251 mph, edging teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who came in at at 29.990.

Martin Truex Jr. (30.162) and Carl Edwards (30.246), who has won two straight races, will be in the second row for the Sunday race.

The pole was the 64th of Gordon's career and first this season.

Jimmie Johnson won the race last year, passing Tony Stewart with two laps to go.