Jeff Gordon : News

#24 TEAM FINISHES THIRD AT THE BRICKYARD

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 29, 2007) – Jeff Gordon finished third in Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it certainly is a prestigious race, Gordon felt it was also an important one -- one that could provide his team momentum through the end of the season.

Gordon, who started 21st, quickly moved up through the field once the green flag waved. By lap 10, he was running 10th. When a caution waved on lap 38, the four-time Brickyard 400 champion was running sixth.

Quick pit work by Team DuPont allowed Gordon to restart fourth on lap 43.

But the turning point of the race for the No. 24 team occurred 18 laps later during a caution period with Gordon running third. Tire wear was an issue during the early stages of the event, so interim crew chief Jeff Meendering called Gordon onto pit road for four new tires during the caution period stops. Gordon restarted 18th with less than 100 laps to go on the 2.5-mile flat track, and found the passing much more difficult this time around.

He was able to maneuver up to fifth just prior to his final stop at lap 126. A quick stop gained Gordon a position during the exchange.

But the adjustments went a little too far, and the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion fought a loose condition through the end of the 160-lap event. But he was able to move into third with only three laps remaining, and he trailed winner Tony Stewart and second-place Juan Pablo Montoya across the finish line after 400 miles.

"This was an important race for us", said Gordon. "We're in a position where we can gamble now, so we're definitely going to be taking chances in the coming weeks to try to win some races and gain the additional bonus points heading into the Chase."

Gordon now holds a 371-point lead heading into next Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. ESPN and MRN Radio will broadcast the race live beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.



Brickyard 400 results

1. Tony Stewart
2. Juan Pablo Montoya
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
6. Mark Martin
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Jeff Burton
9. Dave Blaney
10. Matt Kenseth

Point standings

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Jeff Burton
5. Tony Stewart
6. Carl Edwards
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Kyle Busch
9. Jimmie Johnson
10. Clint Bowyer


MEDIA INFORMATION:
Jesse Essex, Hendrick Motorsports
704-455-0527
jessex@hmsracing.com

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