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He also said he isn't feeling the pressure that Johnson said is most intense for the leader.
"There's this friend of mine that has this joke that there's two types of pressures: pressure applied and pressure felt. And there might be pressure applied, but I don't feel it, how about that," he said when told of Johnson's theory.
He's also trying to keep from thinking what the next month could mean to him.
"I mean, yeah, you can't help but think about it, but I've thought about it since I was a little kid," he said about potentially winning the championship. "... There's a lot of work to be done and it would be a disservice to the work that we've done to date to let that get in your head and think so much about it that you don't focus on the work still to be done."
That's how Johnson has won five, and he's primed to make the most of his advantage.
"We've helped ourselves out dramatically today by qualifying on the pole. We've got the safest pit stall, and starting with track position is very important," he said. "So, stats show one thing, but you've still got to go run the race and I feel really good about my Lowe's Chevrolet and I think we'll be in strong, championship-form leaving here."
Brian Vickers earned the outside starting spot on the front row, with Kyle Busch third and Jeff Burton in the second row.
Johnson says he will be cautious. He started 22nd at the track in the spring and nearly won, so he knows it can be done.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., returning to the track after missing two races while recovering from concussions, qualified 20th.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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