#15-Michael Waltrip won the Budweiser Pole for the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway with a lap of 169.052mph. It is Waltrip’s first Bud Pole of 2005 and puts him in the 2006 Budweiser Shootout. Can ya believe? It is Waltrip’s first pole in 456 races? since Michigan on June, 21 1991 [he finished 34th] and it is only his 3rd career Bud Pole in 620 races, his other pole also came in 1991..at Dover. #97-Kurt Busch will start 2nd, followed by #25-Brian Vickers, #42-Jamie McMurray and #10-Scott Riggs. Missing the race are #34-P.J. Jones, #27-Kirk Shelmedine, #92-Hermie Sadler and #00-Carl Long. Long was to use a backup car [Dodge instead of Chevy], but the motor wouldn’t fit, so they withdrew. Sadler spun and wacked the turn 3 wall and never took a time. A few drivers smacked the wall on their attempts, which slowed their times: #24-Gordon, #34-Jones, #5-Busch were among those. #48-Jimmie Johnson, the points leader will start 21st and last weeks winner, #16-Greg Biffle, starts 23rd. #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr. was the best of the non-top 35 teams to make the race, starting 24th. #4-Mike Wallace was the slowest of the top-35 teams and will start 42nd, via points.
TV: for some reason, qualifying was not shown lon live TV, but will be aired on FX at 5:00pm/et, today [June 11th] at the same time [thanks!] as Busch Series qualifying at Nashville will be shown [live] on Speed Channel. Cup qualifying will also re-air on Speed Channel at 12:00midnight.
For qualifying results, pole progression and starting lineup and links, see my Jayski’s Pocono Grid/Qualifying/Practice speeds Page.(6-11-2005)
