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DOVER, Del. — Jimmie Johnson will start Dover first in the standings and on the track.

The Nextel Cup points leader got another boost in his bid for a second straight title, taking the top spot with a lap of 154.765 mph Friday at Dover International Speedway, his second pole of the season.

Johnson leads the points standings heading into Sunday’s Dodge Dealers 400, the second race of NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup championship. He hasn’t started worse than ninth in any of the last eight races.

“It’s tough to say how important track position is going to be,” Johnson said. “The thing I’m most excited about is having the first pit stall.”

Johnson and Jeff Gordon both have 5,210 points, but Johnson’s series-high six victories give him the edge. Gordon has four.

“We’ve got the 12 best guys in this sport, and there’s six or seven right now that all have momentum,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a great battle to the end.”

McLaren will not appeal fine

Formula One team McLaren will not appeal the record $100 million fine and constructors’ points deduction in the sport’s spy scandal.

“McLaren thinks it is in the best interests of the sport, and its goal of winning races and world championships, not to appeal,” the team said in a statement.

McLaren was punished by the World Motor Sports Council on Sept. 13 in Paris, but no action was taken against drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso .

Hamilton leads the drivers’ standings, and two-time defending champion Alonso is second with three races to go.