Sports briefs: Jimmy Johnson wins Sprint Cu..

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AUTO RACING • Jimmie Johnson has won the pole for the penultimate race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

The five-time NASCAR champion turned a lap of 139.222 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to earn the top starting spot for Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

Matt Kenseth will start 14th in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Kenseth trails Johnson by seven points with two races remaining in the Chase.

Nadal advances to ATP semifinals

TENNIS • Rafael Nadal held off Tomas Berdych 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to finish the round robin 3-0 and win his group at the ATP World Tour Finals, allowing Stanislas Wawrinka to join him in the last four.

Wawrinka beat David Ferrer 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-1, but needed Nadal to win to advance to the semifinal.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic has won Group B. The winner of Saturday's match between Juan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer will join him in the semifinals..

From wire reports

Sports briefs: Jimmy Johnson wins Sprint Cup pole