FRONT ROW NO SURE THING FONTANA WINNERS HISTORICALLY COME FROM ANYWHERE.

Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer

FONTANA - How unpredictable is today's Auto Club 500 at California Speedway?

For openers, Jimmie Johnson was the fastest in both practice sessions Saturday even while driving a backup car. But today, he'll start in the 10th row in his No. 48 Chevrolet when the green flag falls at noon on the 10th race of the NASCAR Nextel Series Cup season.

Kasey Kahne was 24th fastest in the final practice session in his No. 9 Dodge, more than 10 mph slower than the 186.940 mph run Friday that made him the first rookie to win a pole at Fontana. As a matter of fact, Kahne was slower in Happy Hour than he was in the morning session.

That might not be a bad thing for Kahne. Jeremy Mayfield won the race in 2000 and he started 24th, part of a trend that has seen three of the past four Cup race winners at California Speedway start from outside the top 15.

The exception: Johnson in 2002, when the rookie from El Cajon started fourth.

Kurt Busch won the race a year ago in the Roush Ford from the 16th spot, which belongs this year to Jeff Gordon, the only two-time winner of the event. But in his victories, Gordon started first and third.

On any given NASCAR Sunday, the winner can emerge from any spot on the grid. Matt Kenseth won his two races this season from the 23rd and 25th position.

Only Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won from the top 10 thus far, at Daytona and Atlanta.

Kahne, who has finished second three times this season, said track position is important at Fontana.

``I think it's a big deal here,'' said Kahne, whose previous experience at Fontana comes from two Busch races. ``You get so tight when you're up behind a car on a fast track like this you need it to open up, and I remember last year it did.

``Actually, I remember Jamie McMurray was real fast last year running up high for a while, so hopefully it's like that again and we'll have a good race.''

Horsepower, aerodynamics, tires and pit strategy will be factors in the 250-lap race.

``This is one of those tracks that takes everything,'' said Hermie Sadler, who will begin the 20th row. ``It takes a lot of downforce, a car that drives good and that has lots of power. We're lacking a little bit on all of that, but we're going to keep working on it.''

Joe Nemechek is in agreement.

``The biggest thing is having the equipment,'' said Nemechek, who will start alongside Kahne in his Chevrolet. ``You've got to have a good motor, good downforce and the thing has to drive good. You've got to have the whole package.

``If you don't have that, it's hard. It's competitive out there. This is the most competitive thing I've ever done. If you're just a little bit off, it's like sharks. You're going to get eaten up.''

Drivers like the fact that the speedway is wide with different racing grooves.

``At this track, you can run high and run low and try to find a place where your car is happy,'' said Michael Waltrip, who will start 17th. ``That's what I like about California Speedway.''

Even though several of the past few winners have come from the back of the grid, that doesn't make it any easier to pass.

``It's a hard place to pass, no question about it,'' said Terry Labonte, who has three top 10 finishes in seven Fontana starts. ``It can be a hard track to make a lot of ground on.''

Johnson, whose 19th spot is his worst in three Cup starts, likes the history even more after crumpling his primary car in the first practice of the weekend.

``We got the driveability back and it's a matter of working on it,'' said Johnson, whose 182.709 was best of the day. ``We came in with a real aggressive package that didn't pan out in qualifying and we kind of went back in the direction of our 2002 race setup, when we won. It seemed to wake up the car and has brought it back to where we need it."

Robby Gordon is also optimistic, but for another reason.

``I think we're going to be very fast,'' Gordon said.

``I think we were on the oldest tires in the first practice, and I believe we were the quickest on the oldest tires. That what it takes in NASCAR racing.

``You've got to be good for the long runs,'' Gordon said. ``A lap doesn't matter because you're going to have to run 50-something (laps) on tires.''

Louis Brewster, [phone]

l-brewster(at)dailybulletin.com

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Photo:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only NASCAR Nextel Cup driver to win a race this season after starting in the top 10, and he's done it twice - at Daytona and Atlanta.

LaFonzo Rachal Carter/Staff Photographer