Indianapolis Jeff Gordon to Salute Charles Schulz

SONOMA, Calif. - With three NASCAR Winston Cup championships, two Daytona 500 victories, two Brickyard 400 victories, one Winston Million and three Winston No Bull 5, $1 million paydays, nobody ever accused Jeff Gordon of working for peanuts. However, this year Gordon will be racing with PEANUTS when he returns to Indianapolis for this year's Brickyard 400 on August 5. Gordon will race the No. 24 Chevrolet with a special PEANUTS-themed DuPont paint scheme to pay tribute to Charles M. Schulz, one of America's most beloved cartoonists. "We hope that the Red Baron takes over for us at Indy," said Gordon who wishes to be the first three-time winner of the prestigious event. Gordon, DuPont, Action Performance Companies and the Schulz family have partnered on this very special project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of PEANUTS comic strip. The paint scheme features America's favorite beagle in the form of Joe Cool and the Red Baron atop DuPont ChromaPremier "Cool Blue" paint colors. Snoopy's faithful sidekick Woodstock will also be on board to help pilot the No. 24 Monte Carlo. "Just recently, DuPont extended its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon for six more years, through 2005," said Harry Hall, West Region Sales Manager, DuPont Performance Coatings. "We're a company that believes that excellence over time is the true measure of success. "That's why we have a long-term relationship with Jeff Gordon and why we're honored to join this recognition of Charles Schulz - an American icon whose PEANUTS characters and special humor are truly timeless. "We also hope the Schulz family can experience what it's like to be on the winning team at the Brickyard 400 -- the way DuPont has been fortunate enough to do on two occasions." Gordon, 28, has fond memories of the PEANUTS gang. "I grew up reading PEANUTS comic strips and watching the cartoons," said Gordon. "I never would have dreamed that someday I would be able to race a car painted up with the PEANUTS gang. "The characters are so unique and I think that everybody can relate to them in one way or another. I could always identify most with the Red Baron and I'm glad he's on our car for the Brickyard to help us get that car to fly around the track."