Kyle Busch leads JGR 1-2-3 in Phoenix qualifying

The biggest drama during Friday’s qualifying session at Phoenix wasn’t the race for the pole. It was the mechanical gremlins that struck two Hendrick Motorsports cars.

Jimmie Johnson crashed out in the third round of qualifying and Kasey Kahne’s car started randomly smoking in the middle of the first round. Meanwhile, the Joe Gibbs Racing cars of Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin qualified in the top three spots.

Kahne’s car brought the first round to a halt when he was coasting back to the pits. He said he shut the engine off and the engine stayed on. As he made his way towards pit road, smoke started billowing from the hood of the car near the windshield. It intensified to the point that Kahne had to stop the car and get out before reaching pit road.

Johnson’s crash happened as he was heading into turn one. The entry to the corner looked fine before his No. 48 turned straight into the wall and he smashed into it, obliterating the right side of his car. Johnson said the steering wheel in his car came off.

About qualifying, the steering wheel came off. I know my interview was vague, but wanted to tell the team first. I’m thankful for soft walls

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) March 12, 2016

Both drivers will start at the back of the field for Sunday’s race. Kahne because of an engine change and Johnson because of a backup car.

Here’s the starting order for Sunday’s race:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Kurt Busch
5. Jimmie Johnson
6. Matt Kenseth
7. Kyle Larson
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Joey Logano
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
11. Jamie McMurray
12. Ryan Blaney
13. Greg Biffle
14. Aric Almirola
15. Austin Dillon
16. Paul Menard
17. Chase Elliott
18. Kevin Harvick
19. Brad Keselowski
20. Ryan Newman
21. Trevor Bayne
22. AJ Allmendinger
23. Matt Dibenedetto
24. Kasey Kahne
25. Casey Mears
26. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
27. Landon Cassill
28. Ty Dillon
29. David Ragan
30. Brian Scott
31. Regan Smith
32. Chris Buescher
33. Michael McDowell
34. Cole Whitt
35. Clint Bowyer
36. Danica Patrick
37. Josh Wise
38. Michael Annett
39. Joey Gase