"There's certainly a lot of speed in the car," Johnson said. "It's fun when you have a car like that and you can go out there and be aggressive like that."

Johnson was the 18th driver to qualify, a spot that was early enough in the order that the track was still cool and the sun wasn't yet roasting the surface. Martin went out 12 cars later, under warmer conditions, and wasn't able to better Johnson's mark.

"Great engine, great car," Martin said. "I wasn't even shaking after that lap, it was that good."

Ryan Newman qualified third and was followed by Kasey Kahne and four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon. He was followed by Elliott Sadler and Kurt Busch in Dodges, then the Roush Fenway Racing Fords of Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth.

Defending race winner Tony Stewart qualified 14th.

Failing to qualify were Bill Elliott, Johnny Sauter, Stanton Barrett and Tony Raines.

Although Johnson won at the Brickyard in 2006, he's got three finishes of 36th or worse here and was in a fiery wreck last season.

NASCAR