Vickers wins third straight pole at Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) - Brian Vickers is fast, especially at Michigan International Speedway.

Now he's hoping to turn his raw speed into a race victory, along with some momentum to help him springboard into NASCAR's championship chase.

Vickers turned a lap of 187.242 mph on Friday, winning pole position for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Michigan. With four races to go before the chase, Vickers sits 14th in the series points standings - 96 points out of the 12th-place cutoff.

"I know we can get in the chase," Vickers said. "It doesn't mean we will. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, and we can't make any mistakes."

It's the sixth pole of the season for Vickers and a continuation of his recent dominant performances in qualifying at the 2-mile Michigan track. Vickers has won the pole for three straight Michigan races, most recently in June.

"I'd probably give up every one of them for a win," Vickers said.

June winner Mark Martin qualified second, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr.

It was a wild qualifying ride for Martin, whose car was so loose it was hard to hang on to - but fast.

"This place is easy to drive," Martin said. "But my car wasn't."

Martin had a quick one-liner for his crew chief, Alan Gustafson.

"You tried to kill me, but I'm not mad at you," Martin said.

It was a good result for Montoya, but he seemed to be slightly disappointed.

"I think it is OK," Montoya said. "It wasn't the fastest lap - like, 'Wow!' - but it is what it is. Can't change it."

Chase contenders Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne qualified in the top 10 - but Kahne will have to start Sunday's race at the back of the pack because his team changed engines.

"Track position will hurt us early, but it's a long race and there is plenty of room to pass out here," Kahne said.

Series points leader Tony Stewart qualified 18th. Carl Edwards qualified 32nd, worst of the top 12 drivers. Another driver trying to scramble back into the chase, Kyle Busch, qualified 39th.

Tony Raines failed to make the race.

Vickers said he likes his chances of making the Chase, given the speed he has shown at Michigan and his decent feel for upcoming tracks Bristol, Atlanta and Richmond.

"I feel good about it," Vickers said. "We're under 100 points with four races to go and we're headed upwards, not downwards. We've got the momentum headed the right direction."