Stewart wrecks car in practice

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) -- Tony Stewart lost his pole position and will start from the back of the pack for the Pocono 500 after wrecking his car during practice at Pocono Raceway on Saturday.

NASCAR's Sprint Cup points leader lost control of his No. 14 Chevrolet on a turn toward the end of Saturday's first practice and ripped off the nose of his car.

"I just spun off the tunnel turn," Stewart said. "I didn't hit anything, but I did spin into the grass."

His Stewart-Haas Racing crew quickly got to work on the backup. Stewart became the pole sitter for Sunday's Pocono 500 when rain washed out Friday's qualifying and start positions were based on the points standings.

Stewart said he had confidence in the backup and was set to try it out at the second practice later in the day.

"This car will be good, it's just that we're losing on the racetrack right now," Stewart said.

He posted the third-fastest practice time on Saturday, running a lap of 166.701 mph. Jimmie Johnson topped the first practice with a lap of 167.607.

Stewart's second-place finish at Dover shot him to the top of the Sprint Cup standings, 46 points ahead of Jeff Gordon. Stewart is the first driver/owner to lead the points since Alan Kulwicki won the 1992 Cup championship, a span of 556 races.

Stewart is trying to become the first owner/driver to win a race since Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in 1998.

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