NEW FUEL CELL RULE WON'T HINDER GORDON AT TALLADEGA

    TALLADEGA, Ala. - After posting his third win of the year last Sunday at 
Kansas Speedway and staking his claim in the championship chase, Jeff Gordon 
will look to avoid the "big one" as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series heads to 
Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the EA Sports 500.
    Talladega is one of two restrictor plate tracks on the Winston Cup 
circuit where multi-car accidents - the "big one" - are a common occurrence. 
In an attempt to make the race safer, NASCAR has reduced the size of the fuel 
cells in the cars. 
    "It makes some sense," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont 
Chevrolet. "The lighter fuel load will force us into more green flag pit 
stops which should break us up from one big pack of 43 cars to a number of 
smaller packs.
    "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  - one that the fans 
will enjoy and that we'll enjoy - and come out with an exciting finish."
    Gordon avoided the "big one" and finished fourth at Talladega earlier 
this year. Overall at the 2.66-mile superspeedway he has two wins, eight 
top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. However, of his 42 career Winston Cup poles, 
none have come at Talladega.
    "Qualifying isn't as important here as it is at other tracks," said 
Gordon. "Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather start up front. But with the 
restrictor plates and aero rules we have here, if you start in the back you 
can work your way up front in just a few laps." 
    Gordon will look to get up front and stay there this weekend. Last Sunday 
at Kansas he led the most laps en route to his 61st career Winston Cup win 
and gained the most possible points - 185. He picked up 81 points on the 
overall lead in the point standings and is currently fourth, 109 behind 
leader and teammate Jimmie Johnson.
    "This race has the most potential for a big shakeup in the point 
standings," said Gordon. "I imagine everyone's goal is to come out of it 
without taking a significant hit.
    "Our strategy will be the same as it is every week, get to the front, 
have solid pit stops and put ourselves in a position at the end of the race 
to win or finish in the top-five.       
    "These last seven races are going to be very interesting. We can't focus 
on what other guys are doing - whether they're doing something good or having 
trouble - all we can focus on is our own program. That's how we've won 
championships in the past and that's how we're going to win them in the 
future."