CUP: Johnson Opens Strong Again

Sprint Cup

CUP: Johnson Opens Strong Again

Jimmie Johnson is a two-time Pocono winner…

Tom Jensen | Posted August 03, 2012 Long Pond, PA

Fresh off his fourth Brickyard 400 victory, five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was fastest in Friday’s first of two practice sessions for the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway.

Johnson struggled early but kept moving up the board, posting a speed of 174.290 mph in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. In the June race here, Johnson finished fourth despite having two pit-road speeding penalities.

Kyle Busch, who is still looking for his first Pocono victory, clocked in at 173.994 mph, best of the three Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas and second overall.

The Roush Fenway Racing Fords were fast, too, with Carl Edwards running third at 173.967 mph, teammate Matt Kenseth right behind at 173.950 mph and Greg Biffle fifth in a third team car, 173.772 mph.

The second five was led by Kasey Kahne, then June Pocono winner Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Casey Mears.

Paul Menard crashed in the last minute of practice and will have to go to a backup car.

The final Happy Hour round of practice will be televised live on SPEED from 3:30-5 p.m. ET.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.

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Tom Jensen

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