Nascar: McMurray in a hurry at Infineon
Sonoma, CA (Sports Network) - Jamie McMurray captured the pole for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 from the Infineon Raceway road course. But the big story is that neither Jeff Gordon nor Jimmie Johnson were allowed to qualify. Both cars failed pre-race inspection and the cars were not allowed on the track for practice or qualifying.
Without Gordon, a five-time winner in Sonoma and the holder of the qualifying record, the No.26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford won the pole with a lap of one minute, 17.521 seconds (77.521 m.p.h.).
The pole victory was McMurray's first of the season and third of his Nextel Cup career. His last pole was in 2005 at Pocono.
"We unloaded and our engineering team gave us a really good car," said McMurray.
Starting on the front row with McMurray will be Robby Gordon who posted a time of 77.533 seconds.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (77.546) and road course specialist Boris Said (77.606) will make up row two.
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Tony Stewart (fifth), Jeff Burton (sixth), Kasey Kahne (eighth), Ryan Newman (ninth), Carl Edwards (15th), Martin Truex Jr. (18th) and Juan Montoya (32nd).
Gordon and Johnson will be allowed to repair their cars and practice on Saturday - if they pass inspection. They will start 41st and 42nd in the race.
"The body was out of the range with what we thought was acceptable in the template inspection," said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.
"It's important to know this is a Car of Tomorrow penalty," Poston added. "The inspection process and NASCAR's response to Car of Tomorrow violations are going to be more severe.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was penalized 100 points and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. fined $100,000 and suspended for six races for an illegal rear wing bracket on a COT in May.
The No.5 and No.25 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets both passed their inspections without incident.
More penalties or suspensions will be determined next week, if necessary.
The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 5 p.m. (et).
