Robby Gordon went out second in qualifying and was forced to watch times the rest of the session. Credit: Autostock

Robby Gordon, Biffle not happy with slick surface

Both drivers feel Infineon qualifying run could have been better

SONOMA, Calif. -- Infineon Raceway turned out to be a slippery slope for many during Friday's Bud Pole Qualifying, especially for those drivers unlucky enough to draw an early qualifying number.

Greg Biffle will start seventh, but he said he could have done a little better had the track not been slick. Credit: Autostock

Dodge/Save Mart 350 Lineup Pos. Driver Speed Time 1. Ku. Busch 93.055 76.987 2. J. McMurray 92.948 77.075 3. K. Harvick 92.889 77.124 4. R. Newman 92.812 77.188 5. B. Said 92.663 77.312 6. K. Kahne 92.495 77.453 7. G. Biffle 92.308 77.610 8. M. Martin 92.295 77.621 9. M. Kenseth 92.226 77.679 10. Nemechek 92.158 77.736 • Complete lineup, click here Burning BuschKurt Busch wins the pole for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 Fast runJamie McMurray turns a fast lap at Infineon SonomaWatch all the videos from Infineon Raceway Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

The track's temperature -- 121 degrees at the start of the session -- had an effect, but for two of the pole contenders, what happened before qualifying began had more to do with their disappointing runs.

Two other series are sharing track time with the Nextel Cup cars this weekend -- and use different tire compounds.

Robby Gordon was third-fastest in Friday's practice, but could do no better than slide around the course at 92.025 mph -- or 14th best of the 48 cars which attempted to qualify for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350.

"Obviously we're a little disappointed," Gordon said. "We thought we had a legitimate shot at the pole. We had no grip compared to where we were in practice.

"The only thing I can point to is the West [Series] cars that ran before us -- [they use a] different tire, and we were unfortunate to draw No. 2."

Greg Biffle was also frustrated with what he felt was a disadvantageous draw. After a solid fifth-place effort in practice, his lap of 92.308 mph left him seventh in Sunday's lineup.

"It's horribly slick," Biffle said. "What'll happen is the last 15 guys to qualify will beat us. That's just the facts of life.

"We're taking all that [lousy] rubber off the racetrack that's been put down [by the other cars]. We've begged and begged for these guys not to put cars on the racetrack after us. The guys who got the early draw? It's not fair for us to go out and race in those conditions."

Biffle was partially right. Seven of the top 15, including second-place Jamie McMurray, third-place Kevin Harvick and fourth-place Ryan Newman, were able to take advantage of late runs.

Still, Gordon and Biffle expect things will be better on Sunday.

"We'll go to work on the car for [Saturday] during Happy Hour," Gordon said. "I'm confident we'll get a handle on it before the race.

"We've got a good strategy, we've got a good recipe and we'll be good for the race."

Biffle agreed.

"I'm really, really happy with the car," he said. "We tested it at Road Atlanta and it ran really well.

"I like road racing. I haven't always been the best at it, but I've been able to pretty much stay on the track most of the day."