Daytona 500 Qualifying Results 2013: Pole Position Winners, Leaders and Analysis
After practicing with the fastest speed on Saturday, second-year driver Danica Patrick and the No. 10 car made history when she ran a 196.434 mph lap in Sunday’s qualifying session, securing the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
There will be no more questioning her driving skills.
Patrick has become the first woman in the history of NASCAR to win the pole for any race, and she will lead the field to the green flag in the biggest race on the NASCAR schedule. The previous record was held by Janet Guthrie, who qualified ninth in 1977 at Talladega and Bristol.
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This is a feat that many thought was impossible, but Patrick deserves immense credit and respect for not only performing well but also for sticking with the sport through the struggles since making the jump to NASCAR from the IndyCar series.
The female star qualified in first place, followed by NASCAR veteran Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 car. Gordon’s second-place qualifying time will result in the former champion starting on the front row in the Daytona 500.
With Patrick and Gordon set as the No. 1 and No. 2 starting drivers for next Sunday, the majority of the field’s starting order for the race will be determined by the Gatorade Duels this Thursday.
There will be two races on Thursday afternoon (the Gatorade Duels), and the top 15 from each race will have the chance to compete in the Daytona 500 next Sunday.
The drivers with the four best qualifying times who did not finish in the top 15 of their respective duels will also be allowed to race Sunday, as well as the last seven spots being filled by previous champions and cars with enough owners points to make the race.
Patrick has made history in qualifying, but let’s see how brightly the star can shine on Sunday.
1. Danica Patrick, 196.434
2. Jeff Gordon, 196.292
3. Trevor Bayne, 195.976
4. Ryan Newman, 195.946
5. Tony Stewart, 195.925
6. Kasey Kahne, 195.852
7. Denny Hamlin, 195.771
8. Kyle Busch, 195.767
9. Joey Logano, 195.767
10. Matt Kenseth, 195.725
11. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 195.584
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 195.538
13. Juan Pablo Montoya, 195.508
14. Paul Menard, 195.503
15. Casey Mears, 195.495
16. Austin Dillon, 195.385
17. Carl Edwards, 195.240
18. Clint Bowyer, 195.228
19. Martin Truex Jr., 195.207
20. Jeff Burton, 195.156
21. Jimmie Johnson, 195.084
22. Jamie McMurray, 195.042
23. Brad Keselowski, 194.961
24. Marcos Ambrose, 194.793
25. Kevin Harvick, 194.742
26. Aric Almirola, 194.742
27. Greg Biffle, 194.729
28. Mark Martin, 194.683
29. David Gilliland, 194.654
30. David Ragan, 194.616
31. Michael Waltrip, 194.313
32. Josh Wise, 194.254
33. Kurt Busch, 193.657
34. Michael McDowell, 193.544
35. Scott Speed, 193.540
36. Terry Labonte, 193.515
37. Regan Smith, 193.006
38. Dave Blaney, 192.996
39. Bobby Labonte, 192.563
40. J.J. Yeley, 192.094
41. David Reutimann, 190.339
42. Travis Kvapil, 190.142
43. Joe Nemechek, 190.046
44. Mike Bliss, 186.974
45. Brian Keselowski, 183.876
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