Jimmie Johnson finally wasn't flawless at the speedway in Martinsville, Va.

The points leader and winner in five of the past six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on the smallest, tightest oval in the series qualified 15th yesterday for tomorrow's TUMS Fast Relief 500.

Ryan Newman won the pole for tomorrow's race with a lap at 96.795 mph, followed by Jeff Gordon at 96.519. Mark Martin, who trails Johnson and Gordon at the midpoint of the 10-race playoff, will start fourth, giving Hendrick Motorsports two cars in the front two rows.

The pole is Newman's second of the season and 45th of his career.

"It's the place to be, no doubt, and it's the place to finish," Newman said.

Newman downplayed Johnson's poor showing, saying he noticed the three-time defending series champion spent very little time in practice working on his setup for the two-lap run.

In all, only four of the 12 participants in the Chase for the championship qualified ahead of Johnson. Most chose to focus on their racing setup with prospects for additional practice sketchy. Heavy rain fell early at the speedway, and more is forecast for today.

GOLF

TWO TIED IN FRYS.COM

Rickie Fowler, a 20-year-old former Oklahoma State standout in his second PGA Tour event since turning pro, shared the lead with Englishman Greg Owen halfway through the www.Frys.com Open yesterday at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Both shot 6-under 64s in the second round in ideal conditions on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club to reach 11-under 129.

Justin Leonard also shot a 64 and was at 10 under 130.

Hawaii's Parker McLachlin (Punahou alum) shot 68—138 and made the cut, while Dean Wilson (Castle High alum) shot 71—141 and missed the cut by two.

TENNIS

SODERLING IN SEMIS

Top-seeded Robin Soderling edged Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in the Stockholm Open quarterfinals yesterday, remaining on course for a third home final in the Swedish capital.

Soderling, the only seed to reach the last eight, will play Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in one semifinal today.

Baghdatis ousted French qualifier Arnaud Clement, 6-4, 6-4. Olivier Rochus of Belgium beat Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, and will meet Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, who ousted Joachim Johansson of Sweden, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Champions Tour rookies Keith Clearwater and Russ Cochran shot 5-under 66s to share the first-round lead in the AT&T Championship at the Oak Hills Country Club course in San Antonio. ... Australia's Robert Allenby shot a 5-under 66 for a share of the lead with Germany's Martin Kaymer (67) at 12-under 130 in the suspended second round of the Castello Masters Costa Azahar at Castellon, Spain. ... Alisa Kleybanova upset defending champion and second-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 6-3, yesterday to advance to the semifinals of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. ... Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) will fight Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KOs) on Dec. 12 in Bern, Switzerland.