Austin Cindric on pole at Fontana

Austin Cindric proved to everyone that his victory at the Daytona 500 owed nothing to chance. The Team Penske driver signs his first pole position in the Cup Series a few days after opening his palmares in the premier discipline during the most prestigious race of the season.

Austin Cindric #2

2020 champion and 2021 Xfinity runner-up, Austin Cindric takes another step towards title candidate status. Team Penske gave him time to perfect his knowledge of the oval and is much more than a replacement for Brad Keselowski who left to stand on his own two feet by taking a role as driver/owner at Roush Fenway. The Team Penske driver will share the first row of the starting grid with Erik Jones who can thank Petty Motorsports for offering him a steering wheel at the last minute this season.

Erik Jones #43

Joe Gibbs teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin share the second row ahead of Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing), Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano for Team Penske, Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports), Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing) and William Byron Jr on the second Chevrolet of Team Hendrick whose two other drivers Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman took 13th and 14th places.

Let's get ready to ride. pic.twitter.com/RuKCgNbn9k

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 26, 2022

The race should start this evening around 21:30 p.m. French time and will consist of 200 laps of the 2-mile oval.

First segment: 65 laps / 130 miles
Second segment: 65 laps / 130 miles
Final: 70 laps / 140 miles

Starting grid for the Wise Power 400 in Fontana: