J.Gordon Happy Hour Notes - Kansas, Sept. 28

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Post Happy Hour comments:

(HOW IS YOUR CAR?) "Real good. Real good. We're obviously very happy with
looking at the times and the way the car feels. We're excited about it."

(WHO LOOKS GOOD OUT THERE?) "Man, I don't know. The times are close. There
are a lot of good cars. I really wasn't too focused on other guys. I was
more focused on what our car was doing and how we can make it better. I
haven't really looked at the times from that last practice, so I don't
know."

(ON THE IMPLICATIONS THAT TALLADEGA COULD HAVE ON THE POINTS RACE?) "That's
always the case when we go to Talladega. There's always the risk of that big
accident. With this new fuel cell, hopefully we can get to some green flag
stops and get spread out a little bit. I think that's the intent of why they
(NASCAR) are doing that. It makes some sense. I just hope that if it comes
down to a fuel mileage race that we've got decent fuel mileage. If we all
use our heads and play it smart and do what we're capable of doing, we can
put on one heck of a race there - one that the fans will enjoy and that
we'll enjoy - and come out with an exciting finish."

(DOES YOUR WIN HERE LAST YEAR HELP YOU IN ANY WAY?) "I think any time that
you've won at a track and you go back, especially at a new track like this,
it gives you some confidence and makes you feel good. We also did a tire
test for Goodyear here earlier in the year. That went well. There's just
something about this place that we have a good feel for and a good set-up
underneath the race car. The guys brought good horsepower too, so we're real
happy with the combination that we've got right now."

(HOW IS THE TRACK?) "I don't know if we'll necessarily have two lanes that
are fast. I think it's going to be a little bit harder to stay on the bottom
of the race track, which should make for some passing and some good racing.
But I don't think you're going to see a lot of side-by-side racing. It's
still a bit early yet. The grip is going way. The Busch race will help and
then we get into the Cup race tomorrow there's a potential for it. We hope
for it anyway."

(IN THE POINTS CHASE, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS RACE FOR YOU?) "I do think it's
important for us to have a good race - especially if the guys that are ahead
of us in points have a good race. If we don't, we're going to find ourselves
falling too far back.

TEAM MONTE CARLO Contact: Nancy Wager
Protection One 400 Happy Hour nmwager@aol.com
Saturday, September 28, 2002 GM Racing Communications
Kansas Speedway (727) 784-8465
Page 8

"That's why we're coming here with everything we've got. We're kind of in
the position right now where we pretty much have to be the risk-takers, the
ones that are going for it, if we're going to make up any points on these
guys."

(WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUCCESS OF THE YOUNG DRIVERS COMING INTO THE
SPORT?) "It's good talent and good equipment. The tires that Goodyear has
and the amount of downforce that we have in these cars compliments those
guys' driving styles. I know that experience means a lot in the
championship. It means a lot in these big heavy cars. We have a lot of young
and talented guys that are coming up and doing a heck of a job. And because
of that, it creates more opportunity for other younger guys because they're
getting in good equipment, showcasing their talents, and we've even got
Jimmie (Johnson) battling for a championship. That's going to open the door
for other guys to get in good quality equipment also."

(ON THE CHEVYS AND PONTIACS HAVING FAST PRACTICE & QUALIFYING TIMES) "I
haven't felt it much anywhere else, but here it seems that we're closing
that gap on the Dodges and Fords a little bit. We've been lacking. It's
always the case for the first week or two when they give you something like
that (nose kickout) you do what you think is the best. And then as you
experiment and you get more used to it, you start to find the benefits of it
more and more each weekend."

(DID YOU KNOW THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON SAID HE WATCHES THE NUMBER OF CLIPS YOU
TORE UP IN YOUR ROOKIE SEASON COMPARED TO HIS?) "He's got a long way to go
to catch me on that one. He needs to be keeping track of how many wins he
has compared to how many wins I had in my rookie year."

(HOW DO JIMMIE JOHNSON'S AND RYAN NEWMAN'S DRIVING STYLES COMPARE?) "I don't
know, it's hard to say. They're both aggressive and smooth and yet there's
something different about them. I think they both use their heads. I like
the way Jimmie thinks in the race. It's not that Ryan doesn't, it's just
that they think differently about the way they approach the race."

(WHICH ONE OF THEM IS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LONGEVITIY IN THE SERIES?)
"Obviously I'm biased to Jimmie. But I think they both will because of the
teams that are behind them and how well they've done. They both have heads
on their shoulders. If there is any one thing that maybe Jimmie has over
Ryan it's maybe just his personality and pizzazz and what he brings to the
sport, to the fans, and to the sponsors.
TEAM MONTE CARLO Contact: Nancy Wager
Protection One 400 Happy Hour nmwager@aol.com
Saturday, September 28, 2002 GM Racing Communications
Kansas Speedway (727) 784-8465
Page 9

"Ryan is much more low-key and quiet - he's still just as great of a guy -
but he goes about it a little bit differently than Jimmie does."

(ON THE UPCOMING TEST AT ROCKINGHAM WITH RICKY HENDRICK) "We're looking
forward to that. I'm looking forward to giving him some horsepower under the
rear wheels. The Busch cars have less horsepower, so I'm interested to see
how he'll do with all the horsepower. I think it'll be fun and exciting for
him."

(DO YOU THINK HE'S READY FOR CUP?) "I think he's ready to run a race or two.
I think it's one of those things where sometimes you put guys out there and
they do better in a Cup car than they do in a Busch car. Other guys do
better in a Busch car than they do in a Cup car. I think it's worth just
taking a shot at it for a try. I don't think he's ready to go full Winston
Cup any time soon."

(IS HE GOING TO JUMP IN YOUR CAR - IS THAT HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK?) "That's
what he thinks (laughs). I don't know what they've planned."