New procedure sets starting lineup for first time

DOVER, Del. -- Five-time defending Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has 54 career victories, including six at Dover International Speedway while A.J. Allmendinger has none in 126 career starts.
The pair -- with Johnson starting on the pole thanks to setting the fastest time in two Friday practice sessions -- will lead the field to green Sunday after qualifying was rained out Saturday. NASCAR set the starting lineup using practice speeds for the first time since the procedure was put in place this season.
Defending race winner Kyle Busch, who won Friday's Camping World Truck Series race, will line up seventh.
In the past, the 43-car starting lineup would be set per a complicated formula based on the top 35 in owners' points and a lengthy set of additional criteria. Getting into the lineup is still based on that process, but the actual starting positions are based on overall practice speeds, fastest to slowest and with the cars in the top 35 in owners' points lining up ahead of those outside the top 35.
Allmendinger, who has top-10 finishes in two of his past three races here and led 143 of 400 laps last fall before Johnson won the race, didn't miss an opportunity to joke with the popular champion, who sat next to him on a dais.
"I don't understand how it matters to Jimmie -- the system is the same for [Johnson]," Allmendinger said, turning to face Johnson. "You are either fastest, or they used to do it on points so you would always start on pole. Not really sure how that is any different for you.
"For me, I used to be down in the 20's in points so this actually worked out well. It was good. I feel like we came here and did the Goodyear tire test and this is my favorite track and the one I am best at."
Joey Logano was one guy who was pleased at the process that puts his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota fifth in the lineup. Logano, who was involved in a horrific, rolling wreck here three races ago but has top-15 finishes in his three other Dover starts, was pleased, having never started better than 11th previously.
"We're starting pretty good because we didn't qualify," Logano said. "That's exciting -- you have to like that [and] I'm happy with it."
Scott Riggs, attempting to make his second start this season in a second Chevrolet fielded by Whitney Motorsports, was disappointed after turning a speed in practice that should have earned him the 39th position. Since the team has only one 2011 race attempt, Riggs' was the only car sent home.
Allmendinger continued to express some confusion over just how good his car needs to be, but said he was looking forward to finding out.
"We unloaded good [Friday] and worked on it a little bit," Allmendinger said. "You really have to figure out when the right time to do a [qualifying] run is [in practice]. We went out there and felt like we put up a really good lap. We were right there with Jimmie and unfortunately he had to cheat and do one extra run to beat my lap.