Miller Lite Team Penske driver Rusty Wallace had a busy early week before heading out to California on Wednesday. Tuesday was jammed with everything from the Dodge Media Teleconference in the morning to a whirlwind 20-market satellite media tour late that afternoon. In between, he was able to fit in signing 500 full-size Miller Lite car hoods and filming a commercial for Tom Johnson Camper Sales.

Getting out here as early as he did could work a bit in Rusty's favor as far as getting acclimated to the weather. The high temperature here at California Speedway is predicted to be in the upper 90s by Sunday.

Rusty is running the special "Vote Miller For President" color scheme here this weekend and he was already getting favorable comments this morning, even before heading into the garage for the 10:50 a.m. practice session. Also donning a special uniform for the theme, many coach lot regulars were telling Rusty that he looked like famed motorcycle daredevil Evil Knivel with all the stars and colors on the uniform.

All the hoopla aside, it was business as usual when Rusty got to the car in the garage, some five minutes before the start of practice. From the very start, it was evident how much testing here in advance would have been advantageous.

After the first hour of practice, it was Kasey Kahne's 38.888 fastest, Kurt Busch's 38.906 second, Joe Nemechek's 39.017 third and Penske rookie teammate Brendan Gaughan's 39.052 fourth. All four of them had tested here before the race. Rusty, who did not test here in advance of this weekend, was 22nd with a 39.260.

Rusty's car had a tight chassis condition from the start of practice that his Larry Carter-led team continued to address via shock and spring adjustments. With 15 minutes remaining in the session, the crew made a final change that really brought the car to life. He was able to pick up more than half a second in turning in a 39.113-second lap, eighth at the time.

Practice ended with a rookie on top of the speed chart, but that rookie wasn't either Kahne or Brendan. Instead, it was Brian Vickers, who clocked in with a 38.860. Kahne's earlier lap was second, with Busch's earlier lap third, Nemechek's 38.915 fourth, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 38.965 fifth, Breandan's earlier lap sixth, Mayfield's 39.067 seventh, rookie Scott Riggs' 39.084 eighth, Rusty's lap ninth and Elliott Sadler's 39.120 10th. Rusty's other teammate at Penske Racing, Ryan Newman was 12th fastest with a 39.152 and most pit road insiders agreed that the No. 12 team must be saving their best for the real thing - the time trial session.

There were 43 teams that participated in the morning's draw for the qualifying order. Brendan will have to show his cards right off the bat, as he is first out to make his run. Ryan is scheduled out eighth in the order; while Rusty doesn't hit the track until after 33 other drivers have made their runs (scheduled out 34th in the order).

Brendan was out first as scheduled and he didn't disappoint with his 38.742. However, Nemechek was next out and he put up a 35.557 for everyone else to shoot at.

Ryan was a threat with his 38.760 and Vickers was even closer with his 38.750.

But, it was Kahne who would lay the biggest numbers on the board with his fast lap of 38.515 when he went out 27th in the order. Rookie Scott Riggs was surprising with his 38.679.

Rusty kept getting stronger and he turned in a 38.806, which was seventh at the time and bettered Earnhardt's 38.808 by a mere two thousandths of a second.

Jeff Green was the biggest surprise, going out 40th and turning in a 38.644 seconds. None of the remaining drivers posed a threat.

When the dust had settled, it was Kahne on the pole once again, with Nemechek second, Green third, Riggs fourth and Brendan fifth. Vickers was sixth, Ryan seventh, Sterling Marlin eighth, Rusty ninth and Earnhardt 10th.

Sunday's Auto Club 500 has a 12:00 noon local (3:00 p.m. EDT) broadcast starting time on FOX-TV and MRN Radio.

RUSTY WALLACE (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Intrepid) - Qualified Ninth
"I drove it in a little tight down there in one and two. It ran up the racetrack a little bit. I drove it in to straight in turn one and it started pushing, but other than that three and four race runs all day in practice. We made one qualifying run. The car is driving good, and the motor guys have really stepped up to the plate. I think we're going to be in good shape."