Newman takes another pole at Charlotte

North Carolina:

Ryan Newman captured his seventh career pole at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Thursday, earning the No 1 starting spot for NASCAR's Bank of America 500.

Newman completed his best lap on the 2.4-kilometer (1.5-mile) oval in 28.512 seconds.

Jimmie Johnson, who has won five of the past 12 races at Charlotte, will start second after a lap of 28.573 for Saturday night's race, which marks the halfway point in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing's Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Bobby Labonte qualified third, followed by points leader Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray.

Newman, who also won the pole for the May race at LMS, went out three drivers after Johnson's lap. With Johnson watching from pit road, Newman beat his speed on the first of two laps.

"It felt really good to knock off Jimmie," said Newman, who gave Johnson a friendly shove after climbing out of his car. "I knew he was going to be tough after practice. It's nice to finally do it."

Newman's 42nd career pole followed a fifth-place finish Sunday at Talladega, some consolation after he failed to make the Chase.

"From my standpoint we've got a job to do on qualifying night and race day," said Newman, who hasn't won a race in more than two years. "Today it was all we had to do to be first. I don't look at it as doing something to get fame because we're not in the Chase."