Gordon earns second consecutive pole

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- For the second consecutive week, Jeff Gordon will start the race as the pole sitter.

In the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS, Gordon qualified first at Michigan International Speedway Friday.

It marked his 76th career pole.

The cars were qualifying at such high speeds that in the second round, Gordon set a new track record at 205.885 miles per hour and a time of 34.971 seconds, and by the third round Gordon broke his own record with a speed of 206.558 miles per hour and time of 34.857 seconds.

“I knew that we were really strong here the last time we were here and what our team is doing right now, it’s just phenomenal how they continue to improve race cars and just the whole effort," Gordon said. "I’m just so proud of them. You don’t go around this place like that, that fast without a really good race car. Thanks to Axalta, Drive To End Hunger, Pepsi, Chevrolet, everybody that made this possible. I’m so excited about the way our race team is performing right now.”

Of Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Kasey Kahne was next in 15th position followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 25th and Jimmie Johnson in 30th.

Below is a breakdown of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers' performance during qualifying.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 GREAT CLIPS CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 15th
Best speed: 203.943 mph
Best time: 35.304 sec.
Average start at Michigan: 11.9

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 1st
Best speed: 206.558 mph
Best time: 34.857 sec.
Average start at Michigan: 11.3

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S/JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 30th
Best speed: 201.720 mph
Best time: 35.693 sec.
Average start at Michigan: 8.8

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET SS
Qualified: 25th
Best speed: 202.885 mph
Best time: 35.488 sec.
Average start at Michigan: 14.2