Qualifying: Gordon suffers set-back
Jeff Gordon, second to Sterling Marlin in the NASCAR Winston Cup championship points and winner of the past two races, endured a momentary setback Friday evening when he crashed his primary car in final practice at Richmond
Gordon was to have started second in Saturday night's Monte Carlo 400 main event at Richmond International Raceway. The car was deemed not salvageable, and Gordon will use a back-up car. He thus will drop to the end of the grid at the start.
"I really hate to give up that good starting position," said Gordon, who likely will need 50 green laps and a pit stop to make up the difference. "Both the primary and the backup cars are brand, spanking new."
Gordon said the throttle hung on his car, pitching him into the wall. The right side of the car was caved in.
There are several devices, with one or more required by NASCAR on every car at last check, to prevent stuck throttles. Since the initial panic over stuck throttles in 2000, it is not known whether teams have been as diligent in maintaining the devices. Gordon said the gas pedal had returned to normal position by the time he hit.
Meanwhile, Bill Elliott, winner at Pocono and Indianapolis this summer, had engine failure during practice and had to change. Under NASCAR's one-engine policy, he also will have to fall to the rear at the start Saturday night. Elliott had qualified 19th Friday.
Jimmie Johnson will start the race from pole.
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