Newman wins Phoenix pole, sets record

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Ryan Newman set a rookie record with his series-leading sixth pole of the season, taking the top spot Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.

The 24-year-old Newman knocked Dale Earnhardt Jr. off the pole with a lap around the 1-mile oval at 132.655 mph. John Andretti went 132.597 to take the outside of the front row for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500.

The time difference between Newman's Penske Racing South Ford and the Petty Enterprises Dodge of Andretti was just 0.014-seconds. But it was enough to move Newman out of a tie with the late Davey Allison for the most poles by a first-year Winston Cup driver. Allison set the mark in 1987.

"I was worried about John," Newman said. "He was very fast in practice, and I knew he was going out after me."

Newman, fourth in the points and leading the series with 21 top-10 finishes, said this season has not exceeded all of his expectations.

"We've had too many engine problems for that," he said. "We've had one win and a lot of top-fives and top-10s, but you can always do better. I said at the start of the year, our goal was to finish in the top 10."

Newman's third pole in the last four races clinched the season qualifying award and gave him seven for his brief career.

Andretti won the pole here in 1999 and went on to finish eighth. Last year, he started second and wound up 39th.

"We're not going to do that again this year," he said. "We're going to do all the right things in practice and make it right."

Referring to the Petty team's last win here, by Bobby Hamilton in 1996, Andretti said, "I'd like to be the guy who wins again for Petty Enterprises."

Earnhardt wound up third at 132.333, followed by Jeff Gordon at 132.285, Dave Blaney at 132.115 and Kenny Wallace at 131.849.

Mark Martin, who trails Winston Cup leader Tony Stewart by 112 points going into the last two races, qualified seventh at 131.728. Stewart was 16th at 131.014.

Stewart didn't appear to be feeling any pressure in his first NASCAR championship battle.

"I didn't crash in two laps, so I didn't think it was that exciting of a qualifying run," Stewart said.

Asked about the difficulty of passing on the 1-mile oval, Stewart shrugged and said, "I took a provisional last year and it wasn't that bad."

Actually, it wasn't that bad. Stewart started 22nd last year and finished fifth.