Gordon opens three-day test at Daytona

     DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 10) -- Defending NASCAR Winston Cup
champion Jeff Gordon dodged rain drops but successfully shook-down
a new Chevrolet Monte Carlo as a three-day test for the July 6
Pepsi 400 opened Monday at Daytona International Speedway. Gordon
logged laps between 186-188 mph in the car that was built to
replace one damaged in the season-opening Daytona 500. The Hendrick
Motorsports team also had that rebuilt car on hand for the test.
     "We didn't plan on coming here for this test, but we didn't
plan on wrecking two cars in two superspeedway races either," said
Gordon, speaking of the cars damaged at Daytona and Talladega
Superspeedway, in the Winston Select 500. "The conditions are so
much different here in July (than in February) that we're just
trying to gather as much good information as we can for when we
come back.
     "Of course, we're going to share this data with the five car
(teammate Terry Labonte) and especially the 25 (Ken Schrader),
because Ray (Evernham, Gordon's crew chief) is also in a co-crew
chief position with that operation."
     Gordon also commented on recent rule changes that mandated
slightly different body configurations for the Chevrolet Monte
Carlo front air dam and rear spoiler.
     "I think we were just going to see what the Fords had at the
next two races coming up, especially at the flat race tracks like
Pocono and New Hampshire," he said. "Even though Chevies did pretty
well at Dover, I think we were fixing to get slammed the next
couple weeks. I drive a Chevrolet, so I'm glad to see us get some
help.
     "What people can't forget is that there are only three or four
(Chevy) teams that are doing so well. Everybody else needed some
help. I feel like no matter if this (No. 24) team had a Chevrolet,
a Pontiac or a Ford they'd still be at the front because they're
that good."
     Gordon said his team might not use all three scheduled test
days, depending on how the session progressed.
     The test will continue Tuesday. A section of the Oldfield
Grandstand will be open at no charge with access through the
Visitors' Center. Sega Speedway, the video arcade containing a
number of different racing games -- including an eight-seat version
of the "DAYTONA USA" video game -- that is part of the DAYTONA USA
complex that is scheduled to open July 5, is currently open to the
public. Guided Speedway tours are also offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4
p.m.