FRIDAY ON THE TRACKS

NASCAR

Bowyer captures pole for NASCAR All-Star race

CONCORD, N.C.

Clint Bowyer joked about what he would do if he wins his first NASCAR All-Star race on Saturday night and its $1 million prize.

“A lot,” Bowyer said with a big smile.

NASCAR’s funnyman took a big step toward making that celebration a reality by edging out Kyle Busch to capture the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday night, leaving him jacked up.

“It is a million dollars and I don’t care if you are Warren Buffett or the guy that is going to pick up the grandstands after tonight’s race, a million dollars is a million dollars,” Bowyer said. “If you think it doesn’t mean anything different to me than it does to you, you’re crazy.”

The 39-year-old Bowyer’s best finish in an All-Star race was a second-place finish in 2011.

Bowyer hasn’t been the strongest at qualifying.

His last pole in a Cup Series points race came in 2007 — an ongoing string of 417 races.

But he got it done in this non-points race.

Bowyer completed three qualifying laps and one four-tire pit stop in 1 minute, 58.794 seconds to edge out Busch, who was seeking his fourth career All-Star pole.

“We put ourselves in a position to take their million bucks tomorrow night and that is all you can ask for,” Bowyer said.

INDYCAR

Pressure mounts to get into Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS

The pressure of making the Indianapolis 500 amped up considerably on “Fast Friday” as teams desperately searched for the speed needed to make the biggest race of the year.

The two-day qualifying process for the 33 spots in the field begins Saturday and the final day of preparation permitted a boost in horsepower and teams trimmed their cars to the razors’ edge for every tenth on the clock.

Conor Daly posted the biggest number of the week — 231.704 mph in the draft — to end Friday atop the leaderboard. It’s a misleading number since qualifying is done in single-car runs without the tow that adds the extra speed. In all, 12 drivers topped 230 mph.

“We weren’t trying, I want to run clean, but we’ve found some good things,” Daly said. “I think we are in good shape. I don’t know how good of shape, but it just feels nice. I think I was like last on Fast Friday last year.”

The Chevrolets of Ed Carpenter Racing appear to be the strongest and most consistent so far at Indy, and Chevy appears to have an edge over Honda in speed. But, Honda had the three fastest drivers Friday with Daly, Marco Andretti and former winner Takuma Sato.

Earnhardt to drive pace car at Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS

Retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500.

Earnhardt will drive the Corvette Grand Sport Official at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to lead the 33 drivers to the green flag May 26.

The NBC Sports analyst will be part of the broadcast team. It will be Earnhardt’s first trip to the Indy 500.

Earnhardt also drove the pace car at Indy last year for the NASCAR race. He opened this year’s NASCAR season driving the pace car for the Daytona 500.

Associated Press