Ambrose nails the POLE! At 203!

From the AP

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — The last time anyone was this fast in qualifying in NASCAR's top series, Richard Petty was still driving.

He's an owner now, but when Marcos Ambrose won the Sprint Cup pole at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday for Richard Petty Motorsports, the Hall of Famer was on hand to put the accomplishment in perspective. Ambrose posted a speed of 203.241 mph, the first time since 1987 the 200 mph mark was broken during Sprint Cup qualifying.

"I can't hardly remember that far back," Petty said. "To be able to do it on a flatter race track, not Daytona or Talladega, that is unheard of."

Ambrose made his first Sprint Cup pole a memorable one on a day 19 drivers surpassed 200 mph on the newly paved surface at MIS. Speeds have been soaring since drivers began testing sessions, and NASCAR decided to alter the left-side tires for the race Sunday. The cars slowed down significantly at a practice session after the switch, but the change didn't affect qualifying.

The last pole winner to break 200 mph in this series was Bill Elliott, a quarter-century ago at Talladega. Ambrose had the 11th-fastest pole-winning speed in series history.

Hey,good news..Hope he does well tomorrow..We have a delayed coverage tomorrow morning,instead of the usual live coverage,,which means,it starts 10.45 AM..Monday morning,so wont get to see much,if any..But i can watch the highlights later..