Jimmie Johnson took the pole today at Watkins Glen International for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday, cruising the 11 turn road course at 123.633 to take the top starting spot over Kurt Busch. Busch turned in a fast lap of 123.619.

"We did all the right things today," Johnson said of his qualifying effort. "The car could have been a little bit better."

Sunday will be Johnson's second pole start on a road course. He started on the pole at Watkins Glen in 2004 when qualifying was rained out.

Denny Hamlin grabbed the third starting position for Sunday's race and road course ace Marcos Ambrose will start outside of row two in fourth. Ambrose finished third in last year's race at Watkins Glen after starting 43rd.

Road course veterans Boris Said will roll off ninth, Juan Pablo Montoya 10th, Patrick Carpentier 17th, A.J. Allmendinger 18th and Ron Fellows will start 37th.

Infineon winner Kasey Kahne starts 12th on Sunday.

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