POINTS OF NO CONCERN FOR GORDON AT MICHIGAN

    BROOKLYN, Mich. - Jeff Gordon may sit third in the NASCAR Winston Cup 
Series points standings, but he is not thinking about points as the series visits 
Michigan International Speedway for the GFS Marketplace 400.
    Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, has dropped from second to 
third in the standings and lost 231 points to leader Matt Kenseth over the 
past four races. In those four races, he has three finishes of 24th or worse and 
two wrecked race cars.
    The string began at New Hampshire when Gordon led a race-high 133 laps 
before finishing 24th when their fuel strategy backfired. At Pocono, Gordon's 
day ended with a wreck in turn three and a 36th-place finish. 
    One week later, Gordon finished fourth in the Brickyard 400. Last Sunday 
at Watkins Glen, Gordon started from the pole but was spun out entering turn 
one on the first lap. By the final lap, he had maneuvered to third before 
running out of gas. Coasting to the line with a top-five in sight, Gordon spun into 
the wall 50 yards from the checkered flag after being hit from behind by 
Kevin Harvick. He finished a disappointing 33rd.
    "This team has been putting in a solid effort each week but we just don't 
have the results to show for it," Gordon said. "We need to forget about the 
points and just concentrate on racing. 
    "We can't get down on ourselves. We just need to keep plugging away and 
the results will come."
    Better results may come this weekend at Michigan, where Gordon has 
captured two wins, three poles, 14 top-fives and 16 top-10's in 21 career starts. 
His average starting position at the 2.0-mile speedway is 9.8 while his average 
finish is 7.0.
    Fuel mileage may play a role in determining Sunday's winner. If a team 
can stretch fuel mileage, it is possible to complete the race with only three 
stops for fuel.
    "Fuel strategy hasn't been on our side recently," Gordon said. "We 
favored the conservative approach at New Hampshire and it didn't work. We gambled at 
Watkins Glen and that didn't work. 
    "Hendrick Motorsports has one of the best engine programs in the sport. 
We just need to figure out the best fuel strategy."
    With the correct fuel strategy, Gordon could be celebrating his 63rd 
career victory on Sunday.