Danica Patrick: Why she's excited about Coca-Cola 600

Danica Patrick will start fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is Danica Patricks best starting spot for a Sprint Cup Series race not held at a restrictor-plate track.

Six-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won pole position Thursday night for the Coca-Cola 600. But Danica Patrick is getting some attention for taking the fourth spot.

Johnson turned a lap at 194.911 mph (313.679 kph) at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the third round of NASCAR's knockout qualifying format for his first pole of the Sprint Cup season.

It was the first pole of the year for Johnson, who has yet to win a race this season.

"It certainly shows that we're going to be strong this weekend," Johnson said. "I don't know that it sends the same message that winning two or three races will send. But I would love to rattle off two or three wins and have people fear the No. 48 as they have in the past. I don't think a pole position does that to the garage area, but you have to start somewhere."

Brad Keselowski qualified second and will start on the front row for the seventh time this season. Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer.

Patrick ended the first of three qualifying sessions in the sixth spot, was top of the charts to end the second session with a lap of 194.595 mph, and was fourth fastest in the decisive final session, reported Fox Sports.

"The car was really good,"€ Patrick said. "I think the big difference that came for me was in the second round. (Tony) Gibson made really good adjustments and anticipated the offset from Run One to Run Two really well and the balance was really good."

The fourth-place starting spot is the best Patrick has qualified for a Sprint Cup Series race not held at a restrictor-plate track. Patrick made history in 2013 when she won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500, becoming the first woman in NASCAR history to accomplish the feat.

Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon's struggles in practice runs carried over to qualifying. He didn't make it out of the first round of qualifying and will start 27th — one spot behind last week's All-Star race winner, Jamie McMurray.

Johnson has won six Sprint Cup races at the Charlotte, twice from the pole.

He said he isn't concerned that he hasn't won a race this season, which would secure a spot in the Chase for the Cup. What has bothered him is the lack of consistency.

"We have been close to some wins and been pathetic at other tracks," Johnson said.

Johnson was asked if he agrees with the notion that some detractors have enjoyed the fact that he hasn't won yet.

"I think there are some people getting satisfaction out of it," Johnson said. "But if I win, I win too much. If I don't win, they say you aren't winning enough. So it doesn't matter what I do, I can't win."

Johnson was a non-factor in the All-Star race last week at the track in his bid for a three-peat. He said his crew changed the setup in his car this past week, borrowing some advice from teammate Kasey Kahne.

"We learned some things from last week," Johnson said.

Keselowski said he was bummed he got beat out for the pole — again.

It was the sixth time this season he has qualified second.

"It's like kissing your sister," Keselowski said.

Patrick will start in the top 10 for the third straight week.

Joey Logano, who is off to the best start of his young career with two wins this season, will start eighth and will be considered one of the favorites on Sunday.

Logano has already won twice this season and has historically run well at Charlotte with three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 career Cup starts at Charlotte.

Under the new format all cars are allowed 25 minutes to qualify with the top 24 based advancing to 10-minute session in round two. From that group, the top 12 advanced to the final, five-minute round.

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