Gordon looks for Joliet 'inaugural' win

JOLIET, Ill. - Jeff Gordon, already a three-time "inaugural" winner, will look to go four-for-eight in first-time events this Sunday in the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Gordon, driver of the DuPont Chevrolet, has competed in inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup events at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, California Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and two events at New Hampshire International Speedway. He won the events at Indianapolis (1994), California (1997) and New Hampshire (1997 New Hampshire 300), has achieved five top 10's and has an average starting position of 5.6.

This won't be the first time Gordon has driven the new Chicago facility, though. He participated in a Goodyear tire test in early May and was impressed with the facility.

"The track is very fast with a lot of room to pass," Gordon said. "It's a mix between Texas and Las Vegas. The banking isn't as steep as Texas but steeper than Las Vegas."

Unfortunately for Gordon, he won't be racing the same car used during the test. That car was damaged beyond repair in a first lap accident in The Winston a race he eventually won in a backup car.

"The Winston proved our backup cars are good cars capable of winning races," Gordon said. "While I would've liked to race the car I tested here, Robbie (Loomis) and the crew have been giving me good equipment each week and I'm sure the car we race will be just as good."

This weekend's event will mark Gordon's 275th start. At 29, he is the winningest active driver with 55 victories (seventh all-time), averaging a win every five starts. The three-time Winston Cup champion has finished in the top five 140 times (51 percent) and has 177 top 10's (65 percent). He has led at least one lap in 190 events (69 percent), has led a total of 11,983 laps during his Winston Cup career and has never used a provisional.

Gordon also has a victory at 18 of the 23 tracks currently on the Winston Cup schedule, the most of all active drivers. Mark Martin is second with 16. The only tracks Gordon has yet to taste victory: Phoenix, Texas, Homestead, Chicago and Kansas.

Gordon enters the 18th of 36 events which comprise the 2001 season with the Winston Cup Series points lead, three wins, four poles, 11 top fives, 1, 276 laps led and a 7.5 average starting position.

-PPPR