[media-credit name=”Patrick McBride” align=”alignright” width=”285″]
[/media-credit]JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WINS AUTO CLUB 400 COORS LIGHT POLE
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (March 25, 2011) – Juan Pablo Montoya, in the No. 42 Target Chevrolet, captured the Auto Club 400 Coors Light Pole Friday afternoon in qualifying at Auto Club Speedway. Montoya’s 38.99 time earned him his first pole at Auto Club Speedway and his fourth consecutive Top Five start at the track.
“We went out and found two ways to mess up the car and put it back,” Montoya said. “I think we’ve got a decent car. We always run well here. We’re in really good position in points and we have to take advantage of that.”
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, will join Montoya in the front row posting his first Top 10 start of 2011 and his fifth in 11 races at Auto Club Speedway.
“It’s been a good day really, just focusing on qualifying,” Hamlin said. “I’ve never really worked so hard to work on just one lap as much as I have this week. Last week we had issues at Bristol and that was because we qualified bad, so we can’t put ourselves in the middle of the pack every week.”
Joey Logano, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, took third, earning his third Top 10 start in five races this season.
“It felt like we weren’t very good after practice,” Logano said. “I was very nervous before qualifying. I didn’t think we’d be top three for sure. I actually thought we’d be like 20th or so but the guys with the Home Depot Center team did a great job at getting it faster and getting the grip on the corners. It still was loose but it was a lot better than I ended practice with.”
Andy Lally, No. 71 Eco-Fuel Saver Chevrolet, was the fastest qualifying rookie finishing 38th.
To purchase tickets to the Auto Club Speedway race weekend call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to om> www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.
About Auto Club Speedway
Look for some amazing racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Auto Club 400 on March 27. After October’s NSCS race, drivers, media and spectators proclaimed that race as possibly the best ever at Auto Club Speedway- five-wide racing at over 200 mph on the NASCAR circuit!
Free parking, unbelievable menu items and a full weekend of entertainment, live music and fun await fans in the Speedway’s DiscoverIE FanZone.
Auto Club 400 tickets start at $35 and AAA members receive Show Your Card & Save discounts, including a special section with half-priced tickets for kids 12 and under. And don’t forget children 12 and under can sign up for the FREE Auto Club Speedway Lefty’s Kids Club membership to receive FREE admission on Friday and Saturday.
For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.
