Martin lapped the famed 2.5-mile oval at 182.054 m.p.h. (49.436 seconds) in his No.5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for his fourth pole of the season and the 45th of his Sprint Cup Series career. He moved into a tie with Buck Baker for 10th on the series' all-time pole winners list.

"It's just awesome to drive a race car like this," Martin said. "I was miserable all morning, knowing that we were at the top of the sheet in yesterday's practice. I can take the disappointment, but I didn't want to break (the team's) hearts."

Martin is coming off the victory two weeks ago at Chicagoland, his series- leading fourth win of the season.

"(Crew chief) Alan Gustafson and this team have just been incredible, and it's such a privilege to do this," he added.

Juan Pablo Montoya will start on the outside pole after turning a lap at 180.803 m.p.h. Montoya will attempt to become the first driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. He won the Indy 500 in 2000.

"The qualifying lap was actually tight," Montoya said. "I was kind of surprised, but actually kind of surprised we ran a little bit faster than yesterday."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified third despite suffering a stomach virus.

"I had a stomach bug, about a 24-hour bug Thursday night," Earnhardt Jr. said. About the worst thing I ever went through in my life. I am feeling much better. Just getting a lot of fluids. We're ready to go."

Brad Keselowski was on standby for Earnhardt Jr. on Saturday. Keselowski will also be available if needed for the 400-mile race.

Bill Elliott will start alongside Earnhardt Jr. on the second row after he was fourth fastest. Elliott, 53, won the Brickyard 400 in 2002.

David Reutimann completed the top-five.

Brian Vickers qualified sixth, and Tony Stewart, the current points leader and two-time Indianapolis winner, was seventh.

Kasey Kahne came in eighth, followed by Reed Sorenson and Clint Bowyer.

Jimmie Johnson, the defending race winner, qualified 16th. Johnson also won this race in 2006.

Jeff Gordon, a four-time winner of the Brickyard 400, will start 22nd.

Sterling Marlin, Max Papis and Derrike Cope failed to qualify.

Sunday's race is scheduled to start just after 2:00 p.m. (et).