Jeff Gordon Begins "Drive For Five" In Daytona- Good Luck Jeff!

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Sure, Jeff Gordon wants to win the Daytona 500. But 
a "strong" performance throughout Speedweeks, not just his finishing position 
in the ‘500,' could be the spark that leads to his fifth NASCAR Winston Cup 
championship.
    "So much emphasis is put on this race because it's our Super Bowl," said 
Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont 200th Anniversary Chevrolet. "Everybody 
wants to win this race because of the prestige, but it also provides a jump 
start to the new season.
    "You have to remember this is only one of 36 points races, though. You 
don't necessarily need a good finish here to win the championship."
    This is evidenced by comparing how Gordon fared in the Daytona 500 during 
his championship years of 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001 versus years he did not 
win the championship.  In the four Daytona 500's of his championship years, 
Gordon has led 168 of a possible 800 laps, or 21 percent. Yet he has only one 
top-15 finish -- a win in 1997.
    In five Daytona 500 starts in non-championship years, Gordon has led only 
26 of a possible 1,000 laps, or three percent, but has one win and three 
top-five finishes.
    "Our strategy hasn't changed this year," Gordon said. "We want to lead 
laps, win races, post top-fives and win the championship. 
    "For Speedweeks, we want to be competitive in each event and it starts 
with qualifying on Saturday. It's so much easier to get to the front and lead 
laps when you start near the front.
    "Sunday's Bud Shootout will give us our first chance this year to race 
with the new aerodynamic package. Instead of pulling out to pass like we did 
last year, I think you're going to have to set up a driver for a few laps 
before you actually attempt a pass this year.
    "The Twin 125-mile qualifying races provide our first chance to race with 
the same car we'll race in the Daytona 500 – the better of the two cars we'll 
race during Speedweeks. Since your Daytona 500 starting spot depends on your 
finishing position in the Twin's (except the front row which is set during 
first round qualifying), we'll race hard but not take too many chances. You 
don't want to tear up your best car four days before the ‘500.'
    "I compare this type of racing (restrictor plate racing) to the show 
‘Survivor.' For the first 175 laps of the Daytona 500 you need to stay 
‘under the radar' and make friends and alliances. But when it gets down to 
those last few laps and the win is up for grabs, don't trust anyone."
    During Speedweeks, the No. 24 car will carry a special paint scheme 
celebrating DuPont's 200th Anniversary. DuPont's CEO, Chad Holliday, will 
serve as the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500.
    While Holliday may signal the beginning of the 2002 race season with 
those four famous words "Gentlemen, start your engines," Gordon hopes his 
Daytona run catapults him to hear four other words at the end of the season – 
NASCAR Winston Cup champion.