NASCAR Cup

Jeff Gordon on pole at Chicagoland

Jeff Gordon placed his Hendrick Motorsports Dupont Chevy on the Bud Pole at Chicagoland Speedway with a lap at 28.886 for a speed of 186.942 miles per hour, breaking the record set last year by Tony Stewart. Jeff Gordon. Photo by Jim ...

Published: Jul 10, 2004, 6:25 PM

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Jeff Gordon placed his Hendrick Motorsports Dupont Chevy on the Bud Pole at Chicagoland Speedway with a lap at 28.886 for a speed of 186.942 miles per hour, breaking the record set last year by Tony Stewart.

Jeff Gordon.

Photo by Jim Redman.

The Gordon also tied Bill Elliott for the most consecutive Bud poles -- four. If he were to win the pole at Loudon, New Hampshire in two weeks, he would establish a new goal for future drivers of five consecutive poles in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series.

"I really put the gas pedal down fast and hard and it did what I wanted it to do," said Gordon on his pole lap. "I knew that it was one of those laps that you hold on tight and hope that sticks because you know you get a car that is capable of getting the pole if you can hit your marks.

"We hit our marks. We got through one and two and followed that up by getting the car really good through three and four. I knew it was a good lap and I hoped that it was since I couldn't make a second one."

Gordon now has taken 51 career poles, adding his name alongside Bobby Isaac for seventh on the all-time career pole list.

"With each week, the team's and my confidence level just gets higher and higher," Gordon added on his pole and winning streak. The results are showing."

The Cup drivers' qualifying came later in the day than expected after rain fell at the speedway in the midst of the Busch qualifying. The track had changed and temperatures came down by the time the Cup drivers took to the circuit.

Rookie sensation Kasey Kahne was second quickest, a mere 0.011-seconds off the pace set by Gordon. Kahne looked to have the top spot until Gordon hit the track.

Kahne felt good about the time he turned in his Evernham Motorsports Summer Sale Dodge, "I thought we'd be up a little faster, but we'll just have to see what happens. It would be great to get another pole, but starting second is okay with me."

When Gordon took the spot, the young Dodge driver, did not let it dampen his spirit for Sunday's race. "I'm excited about Sunday," commented Kahne. "This track is a lot like Texas and this is the same car we ran there. Chicagoland seems like a great track so far. I think the fans will see a great race on Sunday."

Gordon had to sit and watch the remaining drivers take their qualifying attempts. He focused on the run by his own teammate and driver (Gordon co-owns the Chevy of Jimmie Johnson).

Johnson gave it a good go at the top spot but was shy of Gordon's fast lap by just 0.101-seconds and off of the front row by a mere 0.090-seconds. The Lowe's Chevy will slot behind Gordon for Sunday's race.

"Hendrick Motorsports is on a roll when you looking at scoring pylon and you see those three Hendrick cars up there in the top four - that's pretty amazing. It's a great day for us and hopefully we'll have everything right on Sunday afternoon for this Lowe's Monte Carlo," expressed Johnson.

Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton round out he top six.

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