Johnson takes pole for Daytona 500

MIAMI (Reuters) - NASCAR series champion Jimmie Johnson captured pole position on Sunday for next week's 50th running of the Daytona 500.

Driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the 32-year-old Johnson had the fastest lap with a speed of 187.075 miles per hour (301 kph).

Johnson won NASCAR's biggest race in 2006 but did not finish last year after crashing.

Michael Waltrip will start with Johnson on the front row after driving his Toyota a second-best 186.734 mph (300.5 kph).

Only Johnson and Waltrip earned starting positions for next Sunday's race. The rest of the grid will be determined by two 150-mile races later in the week.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)