NASCAR Sonoma Starting Lineup 2012: Marcos Ambrose Wins Pole Position

Marcos Ambrose has made it two in a row.

One week after posting a record 203 mph lap around Michigan, Ambrose was one of only two drivers to top 95 mph at Sonoma and won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at the Northern California road course.

Ambrose said Friday’s lap at Sonoma was “more intense” than his record-breaking lap last week.

“I don’t know if I got it all, but I got a lot of it,” Ambrose said.

Amazingly, Ambrose had never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole through his first 133 career races, but has now won two in a row.

After Ambrose, it was Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer rounding out the top five.

Gordon said he was pleased to be so close to Ambrose, since the latter driver has been a monster on road courses lately.

“Best lap I’ve had here in a number of years,” said Gordon, who was the last to go out for qualifying and nearly caught Ambrose.

Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman completed the top 10. Last week’s winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., will start 19th.

Only one car failed to qualify for the race. Brian Simo, who was driving the car typically raced by David Stremme, missed the race.

Here’s the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma:

DNQ: Brian Simo