(Sports Network) - Jimmie Johnson scorched the field in qualifying at Dover International Speedway on Friday to grab the pole for the AAA 400.

Johnson, who won at Dover in May, lapped the one-mile concrete oval at 157.356 m.p.h. (22.878 seconds) in his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for his second pole of the season and the 21st of his Sprint Cup Series career. He also won the pole for the 2007 Dover fall race.

"Qualifying was really good, our car has been super fast off the truck," Johnson said. "It was an exciting lap for sure. I think the track changed a little bit more than we anticipated, and I really had to hang on to it the entire way around the lap."

Johnson also led the way in the first Sprint Cup practice here earlier in the day.

Currently 35 points behind leader Mark Martin, Johnson is looking to capture his record fourth consecutive Cup championship this year. He is a four-time race winner at Dover. Johnson's pole will play into his favor as far as track position, since he will occupy the first pit stall.

"There's so much time to be gained on pit road, and the fact that you only have to go a few short feet to cross the camera line [pit road exit line] makes all the difference in the world," he said.

Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the pole and finished third last weekend at New Hampshire, secured the outside pole after turning a lap at 156.699 m.p.h. Montoya was the first driver to qualify in the 44-car field.

Ryan Newman qualified third, and Greg Biffle was fourth.

"We really weren't any good at all from when we unloaded today," Newman said. "It was a good run for us."

The top-four finishers in qualifying are Chase contenders.

David Reutimann, the pole winner here earlier this year, completed the top- five.

Chase drivers Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon were sixth and seventh. Clint Bowyer qualified eighth, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. and Paul Menard.

The remaining drivers in the Chase and their starting positions include: Brian Vickers (12th), Denny Hamlin (13th), Martin (14th) Kurt Busch (16th), Tony Stewart (22nd) and Carl Edwards (30th).

Martin also started 14th before winning the first race in the Chase at New Hampshire.

Scott Wimmer was the only driver who failed to qualify.

Sunday's 400-mile race is scheduled to start just after 2:00 p.m. (et).





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