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PIR notebook: Duel of Hendrick teammates begins day early
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Jeff Gordon gained the upper hand on Jimmie Johnson during Nextel Cup final practice Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway.
Chase comes down to Gordon-Johnson showdown
View PIR map, event schedule and TV coverage
Not by much, but Gordon was fifth fastest on the speed charts during the afternoon session at 27.961 seconds (128.751 mph). Johnson was seventh (28.031, 128.429).
Gordon trails his Hendrick Motorsports teammate by 30 points at the top of the Chase for the championship standings with two races left. Gordon ran 47 laps on the mile oval during practice and Johnson ran 51.
Gordon starts third in today’s Checker Auto Parts 500 and Johnson sixth.
Martin Truex Jr., who narrowly missed winning his second straight pole, topped the speed charts with a lap of 27.880 at 129.125.
Carl Edwards, today’s pole sitter, was 18th best at 28.202 (127.651).
TOYOTA’S WOES
A tough season got even tougher this weekend for Michael Waltrip Racing. Waltrip has struggled mightily with his Toyota startup team, but today’s Checker Auto Parts 500 will be the first race of the season in which none of Waltrip’s cars made the race. Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann and Waltrip all failed to qualify.
“I know how good it could have been (this weekend). It just makes it a little sad,” he said after his qualifying attempt.
Waltrip has qualified for just 13 of the 32 races that he has entered, Jarrett has raced in 23 of 35 and Reutimann 25 of 33.
There will be a Toyota presence in the race, however. Toyota drivers Dave Blaney (14th), Brian Vickers (15th), Johnny Benson (33rd) and Jacques Villanueva (39th) made the race.
WALL FIXED
PIR track workers temporarily fixed the concrete wall on the inside of Turn 4 that was damaged during Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series races.
The track crew worked throughout the night to install metal braces on the cracked wall, which was severely damaged during a three-car accident that sent Andy Lally’s truck hard into the barrier. Lally suffered a gash on his left arm that required stitches at a local hospital.
PIT STOP
Though reserve grandstand seats for today’s race are sold out, hillside general admission tickets are available at $30. The hillside area is outside of turns 3 and 4. General parking is free.
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