Johnson Quickest HMS Qualifier at Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 14, 2002) -- Jimmie Johnson was the fastest Hendrick Motorsports driver in Friday’s Michigan International Speedway qualifying session after posting a time of 38.395 seconds and a 187.524-mph speed. The rookie driver, who currently ranks second in NASCAR Winston Cup Series points, will start 14th in Sunday’s Sirius Satellite Radio 400. Jeff Gordon qualified 24th, Joe Nemechek 29th and Terry Labonte 37th, with Dale Jarrett earning the pole position. Gordon was the quickest HMS driver in Friday’s pre-qualifying practice, posting the third-fastest time of the day in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, two spots behind Jarrett, who paced the field. Johnson was sixth in the No. 48 Lowe’s Monte Carlo, Nemechek was 35th driving the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy and Labonte was 36th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s machine.