Gordon ups speed in second day at Daytona

      DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 11) -- Jeff Gordon upped his best
lap during two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway
to 187.578 mph on Tuesday before an afternoon rain shower
interrupted the defending NASCAR Winston Cup champion's
preparation for the July 6 Pepsi 400.
      Gordon, the defending champion of the "Mid-Summer Classic"
event, tested both a new, primered superspeedway car with which
he set the quick time and the painted, rebuilt car that was
wrecked in the season-opening Daytona 500.
      The primer car was consistently faster in the two days of
testing.
      Crew chief Ray Evernham and the Hendrick Motorsports unit
plans to conclude the test on Wednesday morning between 9 a.m.
and noon.
      The only other pre-Pepsi 400 test that is scheduled this
month is for Hedrick Motorsports and driver Ricky Craven on June
25-26.
      A section of the Oldfield Grandstand is open daily from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. with access through the Visitors' Center. Guided
Speedway tours are offered from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sega
Speedway video arcade that is part of the DAYTONA USA complex is
now open to the public at no admission charge.
      For Pepsi 400 ticket information call 904-253-RACE (7223).
For DAYTONA USA information call 904-947-6800.