Current championship leader Jimmie Johnson may have been disappointed with 29th fastest time in qualifying at the Phoenix International Raceway on Friday but if his Happy Hour form is anything to go by he will still be a force to be reckoned with in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500.

Running in full race trim Johnson was third quickest in Saturday morning's opening practice session at the one-mile Phoenix oval and then fastest of all in the final Happy Hour session as he and his #48 Hendrick Motorsports team look to make major strides towards the 2006 Nextel Cup title in Sunday's 312-lap race.

There was a slightly unfamiliar look to the Happy Hour order behind Johnson with Martin Truex Jr second quickest, David Gilliland third, rookie David Stremme fourth, Kyle Busch fifth and Dave Blaney sixth.

In morning practice second place qualifier Kevin Harvick and Casey Mears were the only drivers to outpace Johnson with Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards rounding out the top five.

Sunday's polesitter Jeff Gordon was only 14th and 21st fastest in the two sessions with the red-hot Tony Stewart eighth quick in first practice and 27th in Happy Hour. Matt Kenseth, who goes into the race as Johnson's closest rival in the title chase, was eleventh and 26th respectively.