500 qualifying: Rookie takes pole

The pair dominated Bud Pole Day for next week's 500, with Harvick only just failing to beat Johnson's time.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Johnson set a mark of 48.431s around the 2.5-mile tri-oval at a speed of 185.831mph. Harvick - who took over Dale Earnhardt's drive at Richard Childress Racing after the seven-time champion was killed in last year's 500 - looked set to beat that effort. But he lost time in Turns 3 and 4 on his second qualifying lap and ended up with a time of 48.447s and a speed of 185.770mph.

Johnson becomes the third driver in the NASCAR modern era to secure pole for the Winston Cup's biggest race. "We're all working hard and this proves it," said Johnson, who had been quickest in pre-season testing at Daytona. "It was a great lap - I knew we were going fast when I came off Turn 4 sideways."

Reigning Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon was third quickest, ahead of Robert Pressley and Ward Burton. The best non-Chevrolet was Bobby Labonte's Pontiac in 11th. Dale Jarrett was the best of the Fords down in 13th.

The Daytona 500 takes place next Sunday (February 17).