The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Sep
14th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Joey Logano shrugged off the news that his Penske Racing Team was put on probation for the remainder of the year and beat teammate, Brad Keselowski to win the pole for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland.
Logano who turned a lap of 28.509 seconds (189.414 mph) around the 1.5 mile oval was one of 14 drivers who broke Jimmie Johnson's eight year-old record of 188.147 mph. He beat Keselowski (189.248 mph) by .025 seconds for his second pole of the season and seventh in his career.
The first year Penske Racing driver said that, despite the controversy circulating around NASCAR and his team's predicament, he was able to put all that out of his mind and drive.
“No, it didn't impact my preparations at all” Logano said. “I felt like I did a good job being able to stay focused in here and focused on doing what we have to do. There wasn't any worry in my mind that we weren't going to be in the Chase.”
Despite failing to qualify for NASCAR's playoffs Keselowski was in good spirits. “Absolutely, this is a track that has been good to us in the past,” said the 2012 champion.
“Certainly starting out front, with the way track position is, is very very helpful, pit stall selection, all those good things that come with it. So I'm happy for that. But, obviously, we've still got to run a race, still got to work hard and find speed to be up at the front.
Columbia's Juan Pablo Montoya was third quickest at 189.062 mph. “Kind of disappointed we didn't get the pole,” said the IndyCar and Formula One veteran.
“Our car was really, really good in practice. Looking at it, I was losing a little on one and two, and I nailed one and two in qualifying. I went into three, thinking I know what I got to do, and I lifted and never turned. I got back to the garage, and I was like, oh, oh great, you know? I know that feeling. So, yeah, I was actually surprised we finished third.
“But when it bogs down like that and you still got to make it to the start/finish line, normally that's not a good sign. But it was okay. We ran pretty good the last few weeks. Around Indy they decided to bring in new cars and better things, and we've been running a lot better so it makes it more fun.”
Kasey Kahne was fourth fastest at 188.785 mph and rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fifth fastest at 188.772 mph.
Logano who turned a lap of 28.509 seconds (189.414 mph) around the 1.5 mile oval was one of 14 drivers who broke Jimmie Johnson's eight year-old record of 188.147 mph. He beat Keselowski (189.248 mph) by .025 seconds for his second pole of the season and seventh in his career.
The first year Penske Racing driver said that, despite the controversy circulating around NASCAR and his team's predicament, he was able to put all that out of his mind and drive.
“No, it didn't impact my preparations at all” Logano said. “I felt like I did a good job being able to stay focused in here and focused on doing what we have to do. There wasn't any worry in my mind that we weren't going to be in the Chase.”
Despite failing to qualify for NASCAR's playoffs Keselowski was in good spirits. “Absolutely, this is a track that has been good to us in the past,” said the 2012 champion.
“Certainly starting out front, with the way track position is, is very very helpful, pit stall selection, all those good things that come with it. So I'm happy for that. But, obviously, we've still got to run a race, still got to work hard and find speed to be up at the front.
Columbia's Juan Pablo Montoya was third quickest at 189.062 mph. “Kind of disappointed we didn't get the pole,” said the IndyCar and Formula One veteran.
“Our car was really, really good in practice. Looking at it, I was losing a little on one and two, and I nailed one and two in qualifying. I went into three, thinking I know what I got to do, and I lifted and never turned. I got back to the garage, and I was like, oh, oh great, you know? I know that feeling. So, yeah, I was actually surprised we finished third.
“But when it bogs down like that and you still got to make it to the start/finish line, normally that's not a good sign. But it was okay. We ran pretty good the last few weeks. Around Indy they decided to bring in new cars and better things, and we've been running a lot better so it makes it more fun.”
Kasey Kahne was fourth fastest at 188.785 mph and rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fifth fastest at 188.772 mph.