NASCAR: Johnson ends a drought at Charlotte

Jimmie Johnson took his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole position of the year during qualifying for Sunday's Charlotte 600. The Hendrick Chevrolet driver denied Brad Keselowski's Penske Ford at the end of the pole shootout.

Kasey Kahne had set an benchmark of 27.890sec in the third and final part of qualifying, and it stood until Keselowski took the top spot with a 27.754sec with just under two minutes of the session remaining.

Seconds later, Johnson crossed the line to record a 27.705sec, which would remain unbeaten for the rest of the session – meaning the defending Cup champion will start from pole position at Charlotte for the fourth time in his career, ahead of Keselowski and Kahne.

Danica Patrick, who set the pace during the second part of qualifying, will start from fourth position – her best Cup qualifying effort since her 2013 Daytona 500 pole. Clint Bowyer was the best of the Toyota drivers in fifth place.

Matt Kenseth and last May's winner Kevin Harvick both left it too late to take to the track in the final session to set a time and will therefore start from 11th and 12th places respectively, just behind practice pacesetter Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It was a disappointing session for Kansas winner and points leader Jeff Gordon, who was knocked out in the opening segment and will start Sunday's race down in 27th, one place behind last Saturday's All-Star race winner Jamie McMurray.

Also among the first qualifying casualties was Kurt Busch, who is becoming the first driver in a decade to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Charlotte 600.