The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page B3

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR INDYSTAR.COM 2nd SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 B3 AUTO RACING ROUNDUP Allmendinger snags his first career pole SUBWAY FRESH FIT 600 (TOP QUALIFIERS) Driver Speed ard Petty Motorsports, but had six top 10s and ended up running the full season. He finished 24th in points. After leading 11 laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 this year, Allmendinger finished 32nd and has only one top 10 through the first six races. He is a disappointing 26th in the points standings. "To get our first pole is exciting.

It's a small victory, but it means so much to this team, especially to me," said Allmendinger, who is starting his 87th Cup race. "It's a big deal for the season. It's been difficult, but I know we're getting better each weekend." Speed ran a lap of 134.373 mph in his Toyota, and Sam Horn-ish Jr. qualified third in the No. 77 Dodge.

Marcus Ambrose was fourth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the highest-qualifying Chevrolet in the fifth spot. Associated Press A.J. Allmendinger finally has his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole. Making it even sweeter, he beat his old team to get the top spot at Phoenix International Raceway.

With a lap of 134.675 mph Friday in the Richard Petty-owned No. 43 Ford, Allemendinger took the pole away from Scott Speed, the driver who essentially replaced him at Red Bull Racing. "I didn't even realize there was a Red Bull car on pole," Allmendinger said, before quickly telling the truth. "It wasn't really a surprise to see them up there, but anybody that's been let go, you know what it's like to go out and beat your old team." Allmendinger ran 38 races over two seasons for the Red Bull team before being let go late in 2008. He started last season with just enough sponsorship to get through the first quarter of the Sprint Cup schedule with Rich PAUL CONNORS Associated Press FASTEST: A.J.

Allmendinger runs qualifying laps Friday en route to taking the pole for tonight's Subway Fresh Fit 600 race at Phoenix Raceway. 1. A.J. Allmendinger 134.675 2. Scott Speed 134.373 3.

Sam Hornish Jr. 134.198 4. Marcos Ambrose 133.814 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 133.640 6.

Joey Logano 133.427 7. Juan Pablo Montoya 133.338 8. Martin Truex Jr. 133.294 9. Carl Edwards 133.254 10.

Jeff Gordon 133.249 Series points leaders: 1. Jimmie Johnson, 898; 2. Greg Biffle, 884; 3. Matt Kenseth, 882; 4. Kevin Har-vick, 837; 5.

Jeff Burton, 785; 6. Kurt Busch, 776; 7. Gordon, 773; 8. Tony Stewart, 770; 9. Clint Bowyer, 747; 10.

Earnhardt, 739; 11. Paul Menard, 735; 12. Brian Vickers, 734. Race: 7 p.m. today, WXIN-59 Busch takes Nationwide Kyle Busch got stronger in the last 10 laps and cruised to victory Friday night in the Nationwide Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Force tops in Funny Car John Force earned the provisional Funny Car pole with a 4.021-second pass at 316.08 mph at the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals in Baytown, Texas. The 60-year-old Force has already won twice this season and if the No. 1 holds up, it would be the 133rd of his career. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also topped their divisions. IRL INDIANAPOLIS 500 SCHEDULE qualifying attempt spans the full four laps, 60-65 attempts can be made between 11 a.m.

and 4 p.m., making it impossible to have each of the 40 cars make the three attempts they're allowed. The battle not only will be for the top nine "the fine nine," as Briscoe called it but for the 24 positions that can be won on pole day. The final nine starting spots will be reserved for bump day the following day. Etc. IMS officials can't have Butler basketball coach Brad Stevens be the honorary starter at the 500 because someone they describe as "a blockbuster" was secured months ago.

But they have invited Stevens to wave the green flag to open Carb Day. The entire Butler team has been invited to the race. Will Power, who won the first two IndyCar races this season, is in line for a third. He was the fastest in Friday's two practices, followed by Tony Kanaan, Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Marco Andretti. Danica Patrick was 19th of the 25.

Qualifying is today at 10:20 a.m. Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409. "Qualifying even once is all-out, and it's not fun," he said. "I think this new format will be all about strategy, and you probably will play it conservatively (early) to make the top nine." Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe scoffed at Castroneves. With at least 40 car-and-driver combinations participating in this year's event, the Aussie said there will be no time for a driver to save the best for last.

"It's just an opinion," Briscoe said, smiling, "but I don't think the top nine guys will be doing anything conservative." There will be additional rewards for getting into the made-for-TV session. The pole winner will receive a 42 percent increase to $175,000 with the second and third qualifiers receiving $75,000 and $50,000, respectively. Season points also will be awarded to all competitors in qualifying for the first time. Each starting position will receive half of the allotment for races, meaning the pole winner will get 25 points, second 20, etc. Positions 25 through 33 will get five each.

Pole day on May 22 figures to be exceptionally busy. If each New format based on street circuit qualifying. From B1 The fastest participant from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will choose first.

All nine will be required to participate but are guaranteed they will start the race no worse than ninth. If weather keeps the extra session from being completed, the race lineup will be set by the earlier times. The new format is loosely based on the Izod IndyCar Series' qualifying process on street circuits and road courses, including the one at Barber Motorsports Park, site of Sunday's Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Helio Castroneves, a three-time Indy 500 pole sitter, said Friday that he isn't sure what to think of the adjustment just yet. Six-time pole winner Rick Mears does.

"I love it," Mears said. "Qualifying was always half the fun of Indy for me. This will be fun." Fun for those watching maybe. Castroneves said drivers will be under even more stress. Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens May 15 for the first day of practice in preparation for the 94th Indianapolis 500 on May 30.

A condensed schedule from previous years includes pole day on May 22 and Carb Day on May 28. The full schedule: Saturday, May 8: Gates open p.m. for Centennial Era Balloon Festival, concert and fireworks; Founders Race, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 15: Gates open 9 a.m. for Indianapolis Star opening day; veterans practice, noon-2 p.m.; rookie orientation program, 2-6 p.m.

Sunday, May 16: Gates open 9 a.m. -6 p.m.; veterans practice, noon-2 p.m.; rookie orientation program, 2-6 p.m. Monday, May 17-Thursday, May 20: Gates open 9 a.m. -6 p.m.; open practice, noon-6 p.m. Friday, May 21: Gates open 8 a.m.

-6 p.m.; open practice, noon-6 p.m. Saturday, May 22: Gates open 7 a.m. -6 p.m. for pole day qualifying; practice, 8-10 a.m.; qualifications, 11 a.m. -6 p.m.

Sunday, May 23: Gates open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for bump day qualifying; practice, 9-10 a.m.; qualifications, noon-6 p.m. Monday, May 24-Tuesday, May 25: No track activity. Wednesday, May 26: Gates open 9 a.m. -6 p.m.

for American Family Insurance 500 Festival community day; no track activity. Thursday, May 27: Gates open 9 a.m. -6 p.m. for Firestone Freedom 100 practice and qualifying; practice, a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

p.m.; qualifying, 3-4 p.m. Friday, May 28: Gates open 8 a.m. -6 p.m. for Miller Lite Carb Day; Indianapolis 500 final practice, 11 a.m. -noon; Firestone Freedom 100, 12:30 p.m.; Pit Stop Challenge, p.m.; Carb Day concert featuring ZZ Top, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 29: Gates open 8 a.m. -5 p.m., no track activity; public drivers meeting, 10:30 a.m., Tower Terrace. Sunday, May 30: Gates open at 6 a.m. for the 94th Indianapolis 500; green flag, 1 p.m. BILLESTESFORD.COM NEW 2010 FORD NEW 2010 FORD NEW 2010 FORD NEW 2010 FORD JON SE FOCUS F150 ESCAPE (automatic) mm 15494 18389 "Plus tax, fee, destination and delivery.

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