NASCAR Cup

Michigan: GM teams qualifying quotes, notes

Jimmie Johnson Qualifies Third at Michigan Brooklyn, MI - Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Impala SS, was the fastest of the 14 Team Chevy drivers who qualified for Sunday's LifeLock 400 at Michigan Speedway. The three-time and defending NASCAR ...

Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:45 PM

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Jimmie Johnson Qualifies Third at Michigan

Brooklyn, MI - Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Impala SS, was the fastest of the 14 Team Chevy drivers who qualified for Sunday's LifeLock 400 at Michigan Speedway. The three-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will roll off third in the 43-car field.

Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Impala SS, qualified seventh. Clint Bowyer put the No. 33 Cheerios Impala SS in the ninth starting position and John Andretti, No. 34 Taco Bell Impala SS, will start in 10th position.

Brian Vickers (Toyota) will start on the pole. Kyle Busch (Toyota), David Reutimann (Toyota) and Kurt Busch (Dodge) complete the top-five starters for the 200-laps/400-mile race set for 2:00 p.m EDT Sunday.

***

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 3RD:

"It wasn't a bad lap at all. I really have to thank these guys for working so hard on this Lowe's Impala. The car was better than what the driver did. I made a small mistake out there that cost us some time. I just kind of guessed wrong on the grip level going in to one. I just got in there a little too soft and knew I was behind so I went down in to turn three and tried to make up the time and I feel like I gave some back. I just kind of over adjusted. I will just have to make it up to them on Sunday.

"But these guys gave me a great race car. Very proud of the practice that we had and that lap wasn't too bad but I know there is a little more in there. I feel very good about the weekend. We have had a very strong race car here the last two times and hopefully we can be up front Sunday afternoon.

"We will be looking for a car where the balance will hang on for a long time. We can move around as we all know. But if you can keep the tires on it and keep that consistent balance over the long haul, you will be good all day long here. The last two times we have been awful close to victory here. I think that hopefully this time we can get it done."

***

JOHN ANDRETTI, NO. 34 TACO BALL IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 10th:

"This Front Row Motorsports team has done a great job. We conserved tires so we didn't do a qualifying run really during practice. We started off that way, but they made the car so much better in race runs, we really thought we had a good race car. I really didn't even get it all. I'm really proud of everything this team has done. To do that, that is very rewarding"

***

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 SHELL-PENNZOIL IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 12TH:

"I was pretty happy with the Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet on that lap. That was night and day from where we were earlier today. Gil (Martin) and the guys got the car turning a lot better for me. We were off quite a bit in practice. That should give us a decent starting spot, and hopefully wecan turn it into a good finish on Sunday."

***

CLINT BOWYER, NO. 33 CHEERIOS IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 9TH:

"It was a good lap. We were hoping for a little more than that, but we were just a little too tight. Hopefully that will put us somewhere in the top-10 or top-15. We've got a fast Cheerios Chevrolet for the race. I am pretty excited about our chances on Sunday."

***

DAVID GILLILAND, NO. 71 TRG MOTORSPORTS CHEVEROLET IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 35TH:

"Slugger (Richard "Slugger" Labbe, crew chief) and the guys made some great adjustments for qualifying," Gilliland said. "That was by far the best the car has handled since we unloaded. I got through one and two the best that I have all day, and then I over drove the car a little too hard into three. I never got down to where I needed to be on the track in three and four. A little bit of driver error there. We have some more speed in the car definitely and we went the right way with the setup. We are in the race and we will work hard on getting the car dialed in for the race during tomorrow's practice."

***

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 42 TARGET IMPALA SS, QUALIFIED 7TH:

"We have made progress with our car in the last few weeks. This Target car has been incredible so it is pretty cool."

-credit: gm racing

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