Jeff Gordon shares a laugh with Elliott Sadler, left, after the drivers finished their qualifying runs at Bristol. Gordon won the pole.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. — Jeff Gordon won the first pole of the Car of Tomorrow era, putting his Chevrolet Impala in the top starting spot at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday.

Gordon ran a lap at 125.453 mph to win his fifth career pole at Bristol. He beat Evernham Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, who qualified second and third in Dodge Avengers.

Kahne posted a lap at 125.313 mph, while Sadler came in at 125.183.

"Did I mention how much I love the Car of Tomorrow?" joked Gordon, critical of the car during its developmental stage.

"I've said the whole time, whether I like the car or not, we are going to do our best to be competitive. I don't care what the car is."

Chevrolet and Dodge are both introducing new models with the COT, a NASCAR-developed car that makes its Nextel Cup debut Sunday. Ford is sticking with its Fusion model, and Toyota, in its first year at NASCAR's top level, is using the Camry.

Tony Stewart, a fierce critic of the COT, qualified fourth. He was followed by Jamie McMurray in a Ford and Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, winner of the past two Cup races.

Dave Blaney, Scott Riggs, Jeff Green and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — NHRA driver Eric Medlen died Friday, five days after sustaining a severe head injury in a crash during a test session at Gainesville Raceway.

The 33-year-old Medlen, who drove for John Force Racing, never regained consciousness after crashing his Funny Car into a guardrail Monday at the Florida track.

Medlen, one of the most popular drivers in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series, underwent brain surgery Tuesday night to relieve the pressure and hemorrhaging and was being kept in a drug-induced coma to promote healing. But doctors said he never showed any improvement.

Team owner and longtime drag racer John Force was devastated by the loss.

"He was the leader of my next generation of drivers," Force said Friday. "This loss is a huge blow, not only to the Medlen family but to drag racing and to John Force Racing."

In 2004, Medlen took over the Funny Car in which Tony Pedregon won the previous year's championship and was the division's top rookie. He won six times in his first three seasons.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Dan Wheldon turned the tables on Sam Hornish Jr. Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, taking the pole position for tonight's season-opening XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 from the driver who beat him out for the 2006 series title.

Wheldon's fast lap of 214.322 mph beat Hornish's speed of 214.298 mph.