European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. May 27, 1994 sports j the stars and stripes Page 35 byjoe Macenka Charlotte . A Jeff Gordon is showing every indication that he son the verge of snapping out of his Sophomore slump on Stock car racing Stop series. Gordon captured the pole wednesday night for the coca cola 600 at Charlotte motor Speedway five Days after winning the Winston select non Points race on the 1.5-mile Trio Val. The Victory and the pole Are important Steps Forward for a second year Driver who has plummeted 12 spots in the Driver standings in seven races. Gordon is 18th in the Points Battle not exactly where he expected to be after being named the top Winston cup Rookie last year. A we feel like we re better this year a Gordon said a but we Haven to proven it to anyone else.�?�. Gordon turned a fast Lap of 181.439 Mph in a Chevrolet Lumina to break Fords stranglehold on poles this season. Thunderbird had started from the no. 1 spot in the 10 previous races this season. Gordon who races on Goodyear tires also broke up the bid of Joe be Mccock and Geoff Bodine to have an at Hoosier tire front Row. A a a a a a we re real Happy to be the first Chevrolet on the pole this year but also the first Chevrolet on Goodyear on the pole a Gordon said. A we wanted to by a the fastest Goodyear qualifier but this pole is just great a real bonus.�?�,. It was especially Sweet Gordon said considering he had been recruited earlier in the Day to switch to hoosiers. V a i wont mention any names a Gordon said a that just made me. Drive even harder to beat those  be Mccock had set a track record with a Lap of 181,519 last Friday in winning the pole for the Winston open. This time be Mccock recorded a 180,252, which was Good enough to Knock Bodine off the pole. A but Gordon went out about 15 minutes later and claimed the pole for the second consecutive Winston cup Points race at Charlotte he also led the Field into last Falls Mcullo Ocllo 500. A you done to know if you be got a car capable of going for the pole until you drop that thing Down into the first Corner a he said. A i was smiling All the Way Down the backstretch.�?�. Ken Schrader will Start fourth in sundays 600-mile race the longest on the Winston cup schedule. Rounding out the top 10 qualities were Brett Bodine Greg sacks Rick Mast Ward Burton John Andretti and Terry Labonic. Andretti is trying to become the first to run in the Indianapolis 500 and the coca cola 600 on the same Day. He will Start 10th in sundays indy 500. Gordon a car was the same one he used last week to win the Winston select open  for the circuit s All Star race the Winston select. Gordon like most Drivers in that race got banged around fairly frequently and finished ,14th in the 20-car Field. A they pretty much had to put a new nose on it front fenders and a right Side a he said. A they worked until 3. In the morning some mornings just to get it Parnelli Jones to drive Pace car for indy 500 thrillers by Steve Herman Indianapolis a Sam Hanks announced his retirement from Victory Lane. . Foyt Rick Mears and Johnny Rutherford took Farewell laps around the Indianapolis motor Speedway. Mario Andretti is on his a a Arrivederci tour. Parnelli Jones just drove off into the Sunset and kept going. A a i never quit racing i just decided not to do open cockpit racing. I Felt that if i had a need i could always come around and do that again a said Jones who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1963 and left indy cars at the Peak of his career four years later at age 34.hell be Back on the track sunday As the Driver of the Ford Mustang cobra Pace car that leads pole starter a1 Unser or. And the other 32 cars to the Green starting Flag. Foyt who retired last year to run his race team full time and Ford chairman Alex Trotman also will drive Pace cars on the ceremonial Parade laps. A two hour session thursday was the final Chance for the 33 starters and two alternates to practice. The track will be closed Friday and saturday. Jones drove in seven indy 500s. He was Rookie of the year in 1961 and qualified for the pole position in 1962 when he became the first Driver to top 150 Mph. He also started from the pole in 1963, when he led 167 of the 200 laps on the Way to Victory. In 1967, his Turbine powered car led 171 laps and had a 43-second Lead when a Safe indy Indianapolis apr the number of crashes in practice does no to necessarily foretell How Many mishaps can be expected during the Indianapolis 500. Last year there was no correlation at All with 13 crashes in practice but Only three in the race. Two years ago 15 preface crashes were a pretty Good Omen for the 11 Wall bangers during the race. There have been Only four crashes during the first three weeks of practice this year All by Veteran Drivers a and one crash last sunday in qualifying by Rookie Mark Smith. The Only injuries were a bruised foot by Mike Groff and a concussion by Paul Tracy. A i think its been a very Safe month. Its been an unusual month in that peo pie qualified where nobody expected them to qualify and other people that expected to qualify did no to get to qualify. So this race you just never know Quot Driver Scott Bray ton said. After Mario Andretti who will Start for the 29th and final time Brayton has More experience 13 starts than any other Driver in the 33-car lineup. A $6 Ball bearing in the Gearbox failed four laps from the finish. Jones wound up sixth As Foyt went on to the third of his four indy wins. A a in be never regretted my decision a Jones said of his departure from indy racing. A a couple of things happened to me. First of All in �?T67 when i was leading the race i was running behind Foyt. He was running second and i could have lapped him any time i wanted to. But i was just taking it real easy and i had a lot of time to think. A and i was thinking that winning the second time was not going to be that exciting As it was the first time. Not that 1 Calcin t really want to win but that did go through my mind a Jones said. A i thought a gee if winnings not All that thrilling what the hell Are you doing it for a a v a / v _ Jones went into off Road racing after leaving indy and had four wins in the Baja 500 and 1,000-mile races and was 1970 trans am Champion. He formed his own race team with partner Vel Miletich winning 53 indy car races including the 1970 and 1971 indy 500s with a Unser. A my business was taking off the ground at that time and i could see that was probably my real financial future. And i had sacrificed my earlier career by not having any kids and i loved kids. 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