After being put on probation for the rest of the year by NASCAR, Penske Racing delivered a message of its own by sweeping the front row for Sunday’s Chase-opening GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Chase contender Joey Logano (pictured, right) will roll off from the pole position after posting a lap at 189.414 miles per hour around the 1.5-mile oval, just ahead of teammate and defending Chicagoland race winner Brad Keselowski (pictured, left), who turned in a lap at 189.248 mph.
Earlier today, NASCAR announced that both Penske and Front Row Motorsports would be on probation until Dec. 31 thanks to radio communications between the two squads during the closing laps of last Saturday’s race at Richmond International Raceway.
That decision was overshadowed by NASCAR’s other edict that came this afternoon: Making Jeff Gordon a part of the Chase as a 13th driver. Logano, who has defended his place in NASCAR’s post-season stretch, didn’t have much to say about Gordon being added to the Chase field.
“It isn’t my decision who is in the Chase and who isn’t,” Logano said this afternoon. “I drive the race car and NASCAR makes the call they feel is right. All I really care about is that this Shell Pennzoil Ford is in the Chase and we have a shot at a championship. Anything outside of that, I don’t really care.”
As for Keselowski, who will be unable to defend his Sprint Cup title of one year ago after failing to make the Chase, he’s looking forward to showing that he and his team are still very much competitive.
“It was a decent lap for sure and the Penske cars – we have put a lot of effort into this weekend and getting the Chase started off on the right foot,” Keselowski said. “I wish we were a part of it, but it shows the speed we will have. I look forward to the next 10 weeks and putting some wins on the board.”
In all, seven of the now 13 Chasers will start from inside the Top 10 for Sunday’s race: Logano from the pole, Kasey Kahne from fourth, Gordon from sixth, Greg Biffle from seventh, Carl Edwards from eighth, Jimmie Johnson from ninth, and top seed Matt Kenseth from 10th.
As for the other Chasers: Kyle Busch will go from 12th, Kurt Busch from 16th, Kevin Harvick from 17th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. from 18th, Ryan Newman from 20th, and Clint Bowyer from 24th.
