Almirola captured the Coca-Cola 600 pole

[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Aric Almirola captured the pole for Sundays Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a lap of 192.940 MPH, 27.988 seconds, giving Richard Petty Motorsports a front-row sweep.

“It’s been a huge honor for me from day one to come to this organization, not just to drive at Richard Petty Motorsports but to drive the No. 43 car, probably the most iconic car in the history of our sport.” Almirola said.

Teammate Marcos Ambrose qualified with a lap of 191.598 MPH, 28.184 seconds.

“It’s a great night for us. We’ll take a front row. If you’re going to get beat by anyone I guess you want to be beaten by your teammate. It’s a proud day for us.” Ambrose said.

All-Star winner Jimmie Johnson third, Greg Biffle fourth and Clint Bowyer qualified fifth.

“Just real proud of where our equipment is going. I have been able always race better than I qualify. Our qualifying effort this year has been improving week in and week out. I can’t express enough how important that is on pit road and late in the race.” Johnson said. “I’m just very proud of everybody on this Lowe’s Chevrolet. The cars have been very fast and really great couple of weeks for us and we hope to keep things rolling”

Last years winner, Kevin Harvick starts 14th.

“We had a terrible first lap then just kind of backed off the second lap and ran faster. They are doing a good job when you can make a mistake like that and still have a decent qualifying lap.” Harvick said.

Kurt Busch wrecked during qualifying and will start 42nd.

Danica Patrick qualified 40th for her first Coca-Cola 600.

“I was just a little loose. I was really loose getting up to speed and loose on the first timed lap. That is kind of where it’s at. I don’t know if maybe my line wasn’t perfect for those conditions or what I needed to do or what.” Patrick said. “Good news is we are in the 600, we just have to regroup and go out there and do a good job on Sunday night.”