NASCAR Chicago Starting Lineup: Jimmie Johnson Leads Qualifying Results For 2012 Chase Opener

Five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson started the 2012 Chase exactly the way he wanted: With a pole at Chicagoland Speedway.

Johnson will lead the starting lineup for Sunday's GEICO 400, with Aric Almirola, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards rounding out the top five.

The pole was Johnson's second from the season and comes a year after he had no No. 1 starting positions for the first time in his career – and also happened to miss out on his sixth straight Sprint Cup Series title.

"It's too early in the Chase to be over-the-top excited...but qualifying (well) makes the race so much easier for you," Johnson said. "Your pit stall is going to be right and your track position is going to be in your favor."

Johnson said he was certain a Chase driver would win a pole today and that's how it would be throughout the Chase.

So how did the others do? The rest of the field included Kasey Kahne (sixth), Denny Hamlin (eighth), Clint Bowyer (ninth), Brad Keselowski (13th), Martin Truex Jr. (18th), Jeff Gordon (19th), Greg Biffle (22nd), Tony Stewart (29th) and Kevin Harvick (35th).

Danica Patrick had the 46th-fastest time of 47 drivers but made the race due to a locked-in spot.

Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, JJ Yeley and Jason Leffler failed to qualify for the race.

Here's the starting lineup for Sunday's GEICO 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway (Chase drivers in bold):