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July 21, 2009

Jeff Gordon says Goodyear has fixed IMS tire problem

By Tom Reck The Tribune Star Tue Jul 21, 2009, 11:28 PM EDT

Jeff Gordon won the inaugural NASCAR race run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and can tie a record by winning the 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday.

He has won the Sprint Cup race four times and would tie F-1 driver Michael Schumacher for most wins at the track by winning for the fifth time this week.

“I feel pretty good about our chances of winning,” Gordon said on a teleconference Tuesday.

Now in his 17th full season in the stock car series — all with Hendrick Motorsports — Gordon grew up in Indiana, graduating from Tri-West High School. He often has said he was glad that Speedway officials decided to have a race in addition to the Indianapolis 500.

“I always dreamed of driving at the Speedway and loved that the race was started,” he said. Gordon competed in U.S. Auto Club races around the state including Terre Haute but never drove at the famed track until winning the Brickyard 400 in 1994, his second full season in the series.

He also won the race in 1998, 2001 and 2004 and has been on the pole three times. He’s been the Cup champ four times and currently is second in the point totals behind Hoosier Tony Stewart, a two-time winner of the race.

Gordon also owns the No. 48 car driven by Jimmie Johnson, who has won the race twice. He won last year’s race marred by problems with the tires provided by Goodyear, resulting in numerous pit stops.

Gordon says Goodyear has worked hard to correct the problems and has been involved with testing. He thinks the issues have been resolved and doesn’t anticipate a repeat Sunday.

Ticket sales, however, are down for the race that will be televised by ESPN, due to the economy and last year’s problems.

“It may take more than one race to repair the damage but I think that it can happen. I think sales can build by race day … some fans wait to get lower-priced tickets,” he said.

“I think we all want the race to continue,” he added.

He was asked if he would ever want to drive in the Indianapolis 500 if it were not on the same day as a NASCAR race. He said he did not anticipate that happening.

“I have a lot of respect for what it takes to drive an open-wheel car just one lap at the Speedway. I’m not one to do something for fun and going 200 laps becomes more than fun. I might do it if I were not driving full-time and going for a championship but I don’t see it happening,” said Gordon.

Commenting on the Sprint Cup title drive, he says it is difficult to build momentum in the series now with the competition.

“Momentum becomes more important just before the Chase between the top 12 drivers at the end of the season. He says Stewart has shown consistency so far to assume first in the points.

He says running out front can be important at Indianapolis. “Track position may be the most important factor … and getting out of turns two and four and getting on the straightaways,” he said.

Sunday’s race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Qualifying and final practice sessions are Saturday with initial practice sessions set for Friday.

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