Jimmie Johnson last started from the pole at Talladega Superspeedway in 2002, as the points leader, lined up next to Mark Martin.

He didn't even make it to the first lap.

In a bizarre prerace mishap as the drivers were warming up their tires, a problem with Martin's steering box caused him to run into Johnson. The two cars skidded into the infield grass, Johnson suffered damage to the front of his Chevrolet, and had dropped to the back of the field when the race began.

"Did you bring that same steering box back?" Jeff Gordon asked Martin yesterday after rain washed out qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala.

The inclement weather led NASCAR to cancel the qualifying session and set the field for today's AMP Energy 500 on points — which put Johnson and Martin side-by-side again, with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Gordon right behind them in the second row.

Gordon was only joking when he hinted at potential sabotage, but both he and Martin know they need something catastrophic to happen to Johnson today for either to have a chance of challenging him for the Sprint Cup title.

The three-time defending series champion has a commanding points lead with only four races remaining in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, which would be a record fourth consecutive title.

HAMILTON EARNS GP POLE

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton put in a stunning final lap in qualifying yesterday to claim the pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Hamilton was trailing the Red Bull drivers entering his last lap, but then circled the new Yas Marina circuit in 1 minute, 40.948 seconds to beat Sebastian Vettel by more than six-tenths of a second.

"It was a smooth lap that kept getting better and better," Hamilton said. "I am very, very happy with that."

FIGURE SKATING

TITLE CAPS COMEBACK

Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo sure know how to make a comeback.

Competing at their first event since winning the 2007 world title, Shen and Zhao won gold at the Cup of China yesterday in Beijing with a landslide victory. Their score of 200.97 points was almost 15 ahead of reigning world silver medalists Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao.

"Our goal is the Olympics," Zhao said. "That is why we're here ... to reach our goal step by step."

Japan's Nobunari Oda won his second Grand Prix title of the season, beating world champion Evan Lysacek. Akiko Suzuki of Japan was the surprise winner in a lackluster women's competition, while Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto easily won the ice dance title.