tool name
closeStreak stays alive for Gordon
Four-time champion puts his car up front again
JIM UTTER, jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Friday, May. 04, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. – Jeff Gordon is on a roll and the only thing that may prevent it from continuing this weekend is his recent struggles at Richmond International Raceway.
Gordon has won the past two Nextel Cup races and Hendrick Motorsports has won the first three races utilizing the “car of tomorrow” this season. The four-time champion has also opened up a 203-point lead in the points standings over second-place Jeff Burton.
But entering tonight’s Jim Stewart 400 (7:30 p.m., Fox), Gordon has not finished better than 30th in his past four races at the track.
“I’ve liked this track and I’ve run well here in the past, but we’ve had such major brake issues the past four races. We’ve improved the aerodynamic, horsepower, grip over the last couple years that we’re going so much faster,” Gordon said.
“For some reason, trying to maintain that speed throughout the race has caused used us, more so than some other guys, some major brake issues.
“Not that we’re running out of brakes or don’t have enough brakes, we are building up pad on the rotor and it creates a vibration. The last three or four times we’ve been here, all I’ve had is a vibrating brake pedal and we could never work on the car.”
Perhaps his luck is ready to change, as Gordon won the pole for tonight’s race. Gordon has won three consecutive poles and it will mark the fourth consecutive time he’ll start first. Gordon started first at Texas when qualifying was rained out and the field set by car owner points.
“We’re extremely excited with the way things are going with our team and our whole operation at Hendrick Motorsports,” said Gordon, who spent some time earlier this week at Hendrick’s headquarters in Concord meeting with those who work on his No. 24 Chevrolets.
“It’s kind of business usual now. We forget about what happened last week and concentrate on trying to do it again this week.”
Although Gordon’s success has raised the eyebrows of several of his competitor, Burton for one is not surprised.
“I don’t judge drivers on one year. I just don’t do that. I know that Jeff Gordon is a talented driver. Even in the years that he didn’t have as much success as he was used to, I never felt like Jeff Gordon wasn’t able to get it done by any means,” Burton said.
“It doesn’t surprise me Jeff and his team are running as well as they are. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. I expect every year (Gordon) is going to be a contender.”
Gordon most wants to be certain the roll his team is on now continues to the Chase for the Nextel Cup, the final 10 races which determine the champion.
Carl Edwards came closest to knocking off Gordon from the top spot and qualified second. Scott Riggs was third, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports’ teammate Jimmie Johnson, was fourth and Kasey Kahne rounded out the top five.
Former Cup champion Dale Jarrett was among the seven drivers who failed to make the field. Jarrett had used the last of his six past champion’s provisionals last week and needed to make this race on speed.
He posted the 47th fastest speed, not near enough to get in. He will miss his first race since the 1994 fall race at North Wilkesboro.
Also missing the race were Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers, Ken Schrader, Mike Bliss, Kevin Lepage and Jeremy Mayfield.