DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson fired the first shot Saturday in what is expected to be one of the best Rookie of the Year races in years, winning the pole position for his first Daytona 500.

The precocious youngster, fastest throughout winter testing on Daytona International Speedway's 2½-mile oval, proved it was no fluke, driving his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet around the high-banked track at 185.831 mph -- 2 mph faster than his quickest lap in testing.

	Kevin Harvick, left, congratulates Jimmie Johnson on winning his first career Winston Cup pole.

That was good enough to relegate last year's top rookie, Kevin Harvick, to the outside of the front row for the Feb. 17 NASCAR Winston Cup season-opener. Harvick, driving a Chevrolet from Richard Childress Racing, came up just short of the pole with a 185.770.

Fifty-three drivers made it onto the track in the first of two rounds of time trials, but only the two 26-year-olds, neither of whom has driven in NASCAR's biggest event, locked in starting spots for the 500-mile race.

"I knew we were going fast when I came off turn four sideways," Johnson said, a big grin creasing his face. "That was the first time I'd ever had that happen to me in my career, so I knew we were doing pretty good."

Johnson joins former Childress driver Mike Skinner (1997) and Loy Allen Jr. (1994) as the only rookies in NASCAR's modern era to win Daytona poles.

Harvick was the replacement for seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt, who died in a crash on the last lap of last year's Daytona 500. He didn't run his first Winston Cup event until the following week at Rockingham, N.C., but ran away with the rookie title as well as winning the Busch Series championship that he had intended to concentrate on before the death of NASCAR's biggest star pushed him into the spotlight.

Asked about having two newcomers at the front of the field next Sunday, Harvick joked: "I hope it's not a big wreck."

He added, "I think we're just very fortunate to be part of two of the best teams in Winston Cup racing. Right now, it's just a matter of going as fast as the car will let you. Next Sunday, we'll have to make some moves that could make a difference."

"Age isn't a big factor in this," said Johnson, who is three months older than Harvick. "The big thing is experience and I'm trying to get as much out of it as fast as I can. Kevin's got a little headstart on me there."

Johnson also beat out Jeff Gordon, who along with Rick Hendrick is co-owner of his No. 48 Monte Carlo. Gordon, a two-time Daytona winner and the reigning Winston Cup champion, was third fastest at 185.491, followed by the Dodge of Robert Pressley, making his first start for Melling Racing.

"I had a lot to do with picking Jimmie to be part of that team," Gordon said happily. "Maybe I saw some of myself in Jimmie. I like his style. I like the way he handles himself in a race car and I like the talent he has."

Ward Burton, second only to Johnson in testing, qualified fifth at 184.426, followed by the Chevrolets of Robby Gordon at 184.362, Terry Labonte at 184.188 and defending Daytona champion Michael Waltrip at 184.188.

Rounding out the top 10 were Bill Elliott, last year's pole-winner and a two-time race winner, at 184.173 in a Dodge and the Chevy of Jeff Green -- teammate to Harvick and Robby Gordon -- at 183.989.

The Ford teams have complained bitterly of an aerodynamic disadvantage at Daytona and Saturday's results appeared to confirm their fears.

Dale Jarrett, the fastest Ford driver, was 13th at 183.711, with Robert Yates Racing teammate Ricky Rudd was 15th at 183.658. The next fastest Taurus was Brett Bodine in 21st at 183.382.

Referring to NASCAR cutting a quarter inch off the rear spoilers of the Fords in an effort to even things up among the manufacturers following January testing, Jarrett said, "Everybody is going to start saying that we're complaining again, but I've found it amazing that everybody started hollering when they cut a quarter-inch off our spoiler, but nobody ever said the first word when they cut a quarter-inch off the Chevrolet spoiler before testing ever started.

"It looks like they really need it," he added sarcastically.

Positions three through 30 in the 43-car field will be determined Thursday by the results of the Twin 125-mile qualifying races. The next six spots will go to the remaining fastest cars from the two days of time trials and the rest of the lineup will be filled by provisional starters based on last year's car-owner points.

Ryan Newman, expected to battle Johnson for rookie honors throughout the 2002 season was 35th at 182.120.

Shawna Robinson -- trying to become only the second woman to race in the Daytona 500 and first since Janet Guthrie finished 12th in 1977-- and Carl Long are the only other Rookie of the Year candidates. Robinson was 30th at 182.863, while Long was 50th at 176.419.

Kyle Petty, Kirk Shelmerdine and Norm Benning all failed to complete qualifying efforts but will get another chance on Monday. Sunday will be devoted to the Bud Shootout, a 70-lap race for last year's pole-winners, and a 200-mile ARCA stock car race.