Johnson edges Busch for Watkins Glen pole

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08/07/2009 - Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmie Johnson edged Kurt Busch in Friday's qualifying at Watkins Glen International to take the pole position for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen.

Johnson lapped the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course at 123.633 m.p.h. (71.340 seconds) in his No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for his 20th career Sprint Cup Series pole, but his first since November 2008 at Phoenix. The three-time defending series champion also recorded his first pole in his 16th road course event.

"We did all the right things today," Johnson said. "The car could have been a little bit better. For us, it was a little bit adventurous from time to time in qualifying trim, but I guess we had fewer problems than everybody else in putting in really good laps."

Johnson, who has yet to win a race at either Watkins Glen or Sonoma, CA., was only .008 seconds quicker than Kurt Busch in qualifying.

"I could have gone off track real easy, so I felt like I drove too conservative, and I didn't think we come up shy (of Johnson)," Busch said.

Denny Hamlin qualified third four days after scoring an emotional victory at Pocono. Hamlin's grandmother, Thelma Clark, passed away last Friday in Tampa, FL at the age of 91.

Marcos Ambrose and David Stremme rounded out the top-five.

Ryan Newman was sixth, followed by Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, the defending race winner, Boris Said and Juan Pablo Montoya. Said, a road course ace, grabbed the highest starting position among those drivers who were required to qualify on time.

Tony Stewart, the current points leader and four-time winner at Watkins Glen, qualified 13th, while Jeff Gordon, also a four-time winner here, was surprisingly 31st.

Joe Nemechek, Brian Simo and David Gilliland failed to qualify.

Sunday's race is scheduled to start just after 2:00 p.m. (et).

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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