WHAT TO LOOK FOR \ Countdown to the Chase

On the hot seat: Robby Gordon. Or maybe it’s more apt to say he’s driving on eggshells. Gordon will have to be on his best behavior the rest of the season to avoid NASCAR’s Sword of Damocles — a promised indefinite suspension if he does anything NASCAR considers detrimental to stock car racing. He did fine last week at Watkins Glen and finished fifth. This will be his first race on an oval since his shenanigans in Montreal.

Three-wide (What to look for at Michigan): 1. Not the usual suspects. Michigan inevitably brings a few drivers to the fore who aren’t there on a consistent basis. In June, Paul Menard shone as the DEI cars ran 1-2-3 during one stretch. Bill Elliott and Michael Waltrip also turned in solid performances.

2. Pit strategy. Gambling on fuel mileage often pays dividends at Michigan. The track doesn’t chew up tires, so fuel-only and two-tire stops will be viable options.

3. The widest groove in racing. You can run the top, the bottom or the middle at this 2-mile D-shaped speedway, and it’s a sight to behold when cars are running three-wide all the way around the track.

Racing rewind (Last year’s 23rd race): All eyes were on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards because they had tangled in the Busch Series race the day before, but they played nice. Matt Kenseth won for the third time in 2006. Jeff Gordon finished second but never really fought for the lead. Kasey Kahne, 11th in points, finished fourth but didn’t gain much on Earnhardt (10th), who finished sixth and picked up five bonus points for leading a lap. And Tony Stewart (fifth) finished third.