Indiana native Newman wins pole in Indiana

Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman is out of a ride next year and needs some good PR. The Indy Speedway ticket sales are slow so they needed a local driver on pole for Sunday's Brickyard 400 at the Indy Motor Speedway to boost the walkup crowd.

The NASCAR gods delivered on both accounts Saturday as Ryan Newman won the pole position over Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin.

Tony Stewart, Newman's teammate rounded out the top-5.

Their other teammate, Danica Patrick, was way down in 33rd.

Newman, driving the No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, turned a track-record lap of 187.531 mph to claim his first Coors Light Pole Award of the season and the 50th of his career. His first pole since Sept. 25, 2011 (at New Hampshire) is also his first at the historic 2.5-mile track.

Newman was the fastest of nine drivers to snap the previous Indy track record of 186.293 mph, set by Casey Mears in August 2004.

Johnson, the series points leader and defending race winner, clocked a lap of 187.438 mph that stood for the bulk of the qualifying session but wound up just short of Newman's lap. He'll start second in Sunday's Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard (1 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Carl Edwards, driving the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, will start third after a lap at 187.157 mph. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin qualified fourth (187.122 mph) in the No. 11 Toyota, followed by two-time Brickyard winner Tony Stewart in fifth at 186.827 mph.

Kurt Busch, who led Saturday morning’s final Sprint Cup practice, qualified sixth.

Mike Bliss and Scott Speed failed to qualify for the 43-car field.

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