Devoid of controversy, Hendrick Motorsports dominated the modified multi-car qualifying format Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway for Sunday’s Geico 500.
Led by pole-sitter Jeff Gordon (194.793 mph), Hendrick drivers took the four of the top five positions with Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson qualifying second, fourth and fifth, respectively. The only outlier was third-place qualifier Ryan Blaney of Wood Brothers Racing.
“We definitely have a fast Chevrolet,” Gordon said. “I think we’ve shown that all weekend long. But you never know what you’ve got until you put it on the clock.”
The Hendrick superiority in time trials did not surprise Kahne, who expected Gordon to capture the pole after he paced the opening session of qualifying Saturday.
“The Hendrick cars are really strong and the engines are running great,” Kahne said. “I told Jeff that coming to the front row, I knew I wouldn’t beat him because he’s really quick, but I knew we could get up to second. I was real happy with that. It’s a good starting spot.”
Tony Stewart, Paul Menard, Matt Kenseth, David Ragan and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.
The pole was Gordon’s third of 2015 and second on a restrictor-plate, having also captured the No. 1 position for the Daytona 500. But unlike the season-opener where crashes and driver complaints about the format overshadowed Gordon’s accomplishment in his final full season of competition, there was no drama Saturday.
Utilizing a hybrid format combining elements of single-car runs and the popular group qualifying system used on all tracks but Talladega and Daytona International Speedway, drivers went onto the track in timed intervals individually and allowed to complete just one lap.
Drivers praised the new procedures afterward.
“I think it’s a great way to manage the requirement of qualifying,” Johnson said. “We tried to make it more exciting with group drafting and that had some issues to it. I think it’s a good balance.”
Said Earnhardt: “It’s the way it ought to be. The fastest car gets the pole.”
Michael McDowell and Jeb Burton failed to qualify.
Geico 500 starting lineup
