Vickers Picks Up Top-Three Start at Vegas

LAS VEGAS (March 5, 2004) – Rookie Brian Vickers led Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, posting the third-best lap of the 44-car session. Driving the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet, Vickers was clocked at 174.537 mph (30.939 seconds). He will start to the inside of Jamie McMurray on Row 2. Jimmie Johnson was 12th in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, followed by Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 84 CARQUEST Monte Carlo, who locked up 18th in his first-ever NEXTEL Cup qualifying attempt. Jeff Gordon will start 20th in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, while two-time Cup Series champion Terry Labonte will line up 37th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevy. Kasey Kahne earned the pole position at 174.904 mph (30.874 seconds). Scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET green flag, Sunday’s 400-mile event will be broadcast live from Las Vegas Motor Speedway by FOX and PRN.