Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Kyle Busch takes Brickyard 400 pole over Kevin Harvick

Kyle Busch will attempt to become the first driver to win three consecutive Brickyard 400s in the best position possible.

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

Busch went out near the very end of the final five-minute round of knockout qualifying on Saturday and won the pole for Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an average lap speed of 187.301 mph.

Busch easily topped Kevin Harvick, who came in the final session at 186.332 mph.

The pole Busch’s fourth of the season and 23rd of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. In his previous three starts from the pole this season, Busch’s best finish is fifth at Kentucky.

“I would certainly like to think (I have a shot at three in a row) but anything can happen in these races,” said Busch. “My team came gave me a fast race car and it’s been a lot of fun for us here the last couple of years.

“We just have to put it all together. In practice today I didn’t feel like we were the best- we didn’t even make any mock (qualifying) runs since the day was so short. That shows you how good these guys are and how dedicated we are to win this thing.”

Jamie McMurray ended up third-fastest, Jimmie Johnson fourth and Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin, rounded out the top-five.

Lining up sixth through 12: Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch.

Round 2

Kyle Busch wasted little time in the 10-minute second session going to the top of the chart with an average lap speed of 186.660 mph, just edging his teammate Hamlin (186.324 mph).

Harvick was third-fastest, Truex fourth and Logano fifth.

Also advancing to the final round were McMurray, Jones, Johnson, Keselowski, Newman, Kurt Busch and Blaney.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. got bumped out late in the session and will start 13th in his final Brickyard 400 on Sunday.

Among those who also failed to advance to Round 3 were Matt Kenseth, Chase Elliott, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Round 1

It was a bit of role reversal for Chip Ganassi Racing in the first 25-minute round of knockout qualifying.

McMurray posted the fastest average lap speed at 187.395 mph while his teammate, series points leader Kyle Larson, came in at 25th-fastest and failed to advance to Round 2.

“We’ve been off kind of all day. I made an attempt before that run, I got really tight before the green so I aborted it and came back in,” Larson said. “We’ll work on it overnight and be ready for the race tomorrow.”

Larson is tied with the most poles this season (three) and has started in the No. 1 position five times – twice by leading the owner points when qualifying was rained out.

Kyle Busch ended the session second-quickest (186.753 mph). Earnhardt was fourth-fastest and Harvick rounded out the top-five.

Besides Larson, other notables who failed to advance out of Round 1 included Chris Buescher, Ty Dillon and Aric Almirola.

A.J. Allmendinger went out very late in the session but failed to complete a lap and will start last in the 40-car field.

Cla#DriverManufacturerTimeGapMph
1 18 united_states Kyle Busch  Toyota 48.051   187.301
2 4 united_states Kevin Harvick  Ford 48.301 0.250 186.332
3 1 united_states Jamie McMurray  Chevrolet 48.316 0.265 186.274
4 48 united_states Jimmie Johnson  Chevrolet 48.426 0.375 185.851
5 11 united_states Denny Hamlin  Toyota 48.434 0.383 185.820
6 78 united_states Martin Truex Jr.  Toyota 48.456 0.405 185.736
7 22 united_states Joey Logano  Ford 48.461 0.410 185.716
8 31 united_states Ryan Newman  Chevrolet 48.611 0.560 185.143
9 77 united_states Erik Jones  Toyota 48.677 0.626 184.892
10 21 united_states Ryan Blaney  Ford 48.750 0.699 184.615
11 2 united_states Brad Keselowski  Ford 48.845 0.794 184.256
12 41 united_states Kurt Busch  Ford 48.871 0.820 184.158
13 88 united_states Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Chevrolet 48.760 0.709 184.578
14 20 united_states Matt Kenseth  Toyota 48.789 0.738 184.468
15 19 mexico Daniel Suarez  Toyota 48.793 0.742 184.453
16 24 united_states Chase Elliott  Chevrolet 48.844 0.793 184.260
17 27 united_states Paul Menard  Chevrolet 48.991 0.940 183.707
18 14 united_states Clint Bowyer  Ford 49.020 0.969 183.599
19 5 united_states Kasey Kahne  Chevrolet 49.036 0.985 183.539
20 3 united_states Austin Dillon  Chevrolet 49.099 1.048 183.303
21 17 united_states Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Ford 49.104 1.053 183.284
22 6 united_states Trevor Bayne  Ford 49.136 1.085 183.165
23 10 united_states Danica Patrick  Ford 49.489 1.438 181.859
24 95 united_states Michael McDowell  Chevrolet 49.500 1.449 181.818
25 42 united_states Kyle Larson  Chevrolet 49.072 1.021 183.404
26 37 united_states Chris Buescher  Chevrolet 49.102 1.051 183.292
27 32 united_states Matt DiBenedetto  Ford 49.313 1.262 182.508
28 13 united_states Ty Dillon  Chevrolet 49.343 1.292 181.899
29 43 united_states Aric Almirola  Ford 49.427 1.376 182.087
30 38 united_states David Ragan  Ford 49.674 1.623 180.455
31 34 united_states Landon Cassill  Ford 49.755 1.704 180.886
32 23 united_states Corey Lajoie  Toyota 50.166 2.115 179.404
33 7 united_states J.J. Yeley  Chevrolet 50.421 2.370 178.497
34 72 united_states Cole Whitt  Chevrolet 50.620 2.569 177.795
35 51 united_states B.J. McLeod  Chevrolet 51.051 3.000 176.294
36 55 united_states Gray Gaulding  Toyota 51.178 3.127 175.857
37 33 united_states Jeffrey Earnhardt  Chevrolet 51.398 3.347 173.164
38 66 united_states Timmy Hill  Chevrolet 51.747 3.696 173.923
39 15 united_states Joey Gase  Chevrolet 55.336 7.285 162.643
40 47 united_states A.J. Allmendinger  Chevrolet 0.000   0.000

 

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Larson believes Christopher Bell will be a future Cup star
Next article Alex Bowman's "gamble on himself" pays off with Hendrick Motorsports

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global