Gordon wins pole at Watkins Glen

Gordon wins pole at Watkins Glen
Eds: AMs.
By DICK BRINSTER
AP Sports Writer
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) -- Jeff Gordon's miserable season took a positive turn Friday when NASCAR's king of the road won the pole with a record-shattering run at Watkins Glen International.
The four-time Winston Cup champion -- with a record seven victories on road courses -- sped around the 2.45-mile serpentine track at 124.580 mph. It was the second pole this season for Gordon, a distant third in the points standings with only one victory.
Gordon said the combination of a fast racing surface and a testing session last month helped him immensely.
"We were really fast all day," he said, alluding to being second-quickest in practice. "The conditions couldn't be any more perfect for qualifying."
He was among those who weren't a bit surprised that Dale Jarrett's 2-year-old record of 122.698 mph was broken by 18 of 47 cars. He said the 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.
"After the last race here we knew he had to come back and test," he 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, and things are really going well."
It was his second pole on the 11-turn layout, one of only two road courses on the circuit, and the 44th of his career. Gordon will try Sunday in the Sirius at The Glen to win here for a fifth time and claim his 63rd career victory.
Second to Gordon's Chevrolet was Biffle's Ford, which got around the track at 124.497.
Despite his run, Biffle rejected the notion that he laid down a perfect lap.
"I probably left at least a tenth (of a second) on the table coming back to the checkered flag," he said. "We're excited because our car is just as fast in race trim."
Third was Biffle's teammate, Mark Martin, who swept the pole and the race from 1993-95 and has four road-course victories. He got around at 124.464, and was very happy.
"No driver can drive a slow car fast," he 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 overall -- qualified fifth by touring the track at 124.255 in a Dodge.
Earnhardt, points leader Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte and road course ace Boris Said -- the polesitter in June in Sonoma, Calif. -- completed the top 10.