Daytona 500 qualifying

Jimmie Johnson is in. No surprise there. He won the pole for the Daytona 500 and continued the dominance he demonstrated in winning his second straight Cup championship last year.
"Today it didn't have a lot to do with the driver," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "I can only mess up a few things, my guys really put the speed in that car and I can't thank them enough."
The next three fastest drivers in qualifying were definitely surprising. Michael Waltrip, who was not guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500, was second fastest in qualifying and will start on the front row with Johnson.
Joe Nemechek, another driver who was not guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500, was third fastest in qualifying. He's in the race, but his starting spot will be determined by how he finishes in his qualifying race on Thursday.
"Have to thank Hendrick Motorsports for awesome engines," said Nemechek, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. "Everybody that works on this car. This team is based out of Denver, Colorado. Logistics are tough. There are a lot of challenges they have to overcome. But the team is good; we have some good people in place. Good leadership and that is what it is about."
David Reutimann is in the same boat as Nemechek. Reutimann was fourth fastest in qualifying and did not have a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500. But after qualifying, he's in the race and his starting position will be determined after his qualifying race on Thursday.
It was also an impressive showing for Toyota, which had three of the top-five qualifiers. Waltrip and Reutimann, both drivers for Michael Waltrip Racing, had no problem qualifying for the race. Last year, Toyota's first year in Cup, Toyota drivers struggled to qualify for races and only one car finished in the top 35 in the owners standings.
The top-35 teams in the owners standings earn automatic starting spots in Cup races. Dave Blaney, who was fifth fastest in qualifying, had the only Toyota team to finish in the top 35.