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King of the road (course) J. Gordon to start from pole at Sirius at the GlenPosted: Friday August 08, 2003 6:48 PMUpdated: Saturday August 09, 2003 1:59 AM
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) -- There's nothing like a road course -- and some good weather -- to lift the spirits of Jeff Gordon. The four-time Winston Cup champion won the pole for the Sirius at The Glen with a record-shattering run Friday at Watkins Glen International. Gordon, who has a Winston Cup-record seven victories on road courses, sped around the twisting 2.45-mile track at 124.580 mph. It was the second pole this season for Gordon, a distant third in the points standings behind Matt Kenseth with only one victory. And it came just before a rain shower that might have erased his winning effort. "I'm excited, pumped," said Gordon, who has won four of the last six Winston Cup races at The Glen. "I've never felt so much tension and drama because of the rain. I was just so afraid it was going to rain." Gordon said the combination of a fast racing surface and a testing session two weeks ago helped him immensely. "Last week at Indy was one of the most frustrating days we've ever had on qualifying day," said Gordon, who qualified a dismal 19th for the Brickyard 400. "I had hoped that the test we did up here would pay off, and it certainly has. This is half the battle, sitting on the pole." Gordon wasn't a bit surprised that Dale Jarrett's 2-year-old record of 122.698 mph was broken by 18 cars. He said teams have put a greater emphasis on road-course programs in the last few seasons. Gordon also said he has rededicated himself to being a constant threat on the road courses. He finished second at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in NASCAR's other road race in June after finishing 22nd last year at Watkins Glen. "After the last race here, we knew he had to come back and test," Gordon said. "We had a plan that paid off for us. The last couple of years we weren't good enough to win a pole." That bothered Gordon, who said he was further inspired to go faster after watching Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. post very quick laps before his run. He decided he would not even think about a conservative lap. Passion and the dedication of his crew also played a part, Gordon explained. "I love the road courses, and these guys supply me with such great equipment that it makes it easy," he said. "I was a second faster in practice than in testing." It was his second pole on the 11-turn layout and the 44th of his career. Second to Gordon's Chevrolet was Biffle's Ford, which got around the track at 124.497. Third was Biffle's teammate, Mark Martin, who swept the pole and the race from 1993-95. He turned a lap at 124.464, and was very happy. "No driver can drive a slow car fast," Martin said. "That was an incredible piece of equipment I was in today. That's the best starting spot I've had all year." Martin will line up on the inside of the second row, flanked by defending race champion Tony Stewart, who went 124.267 in a Chevy. Two-time Watkins Glen winner Rusty Wallace -- with six road course victories over all -- qualified fifth at 124.255 in a Dodge. Earnhardt, Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte and road-course ace Boris Said -- the polesitter at Sonoma -- completed the top 10.
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