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Show cg Franchitti’s Record Lap an Martin Finally Get in Today ys. Gordon? +" Earns Miller 200 Pole 2D Tired of finishing second, Martin seeks ‘Bud’ crown BY MIKE HARRIS in the Finger Lakes region of up- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BY TIM PUET za state New York Then, as if to prove it was no fluke, Gordon won from the pole Six weeksagoin Sonoma, Calif. — WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. Where Jeff Gordonis these days, Mark Martin is usuallyclose behind. That's a situation Martin would Lite 2 the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as the track record six positions ahead of Martin on the 43-car grid. Martin would love to get back to the winner'scircle like to remedytod: was broken for the second straight day. Franchitti, a second-yeardriver from Scotland, had afast lap of 123.766 mphin his final qualify on a road course after finishing fifth last August at the Glen and sixth in June at Sears Point be in front of the defending Winston Cup champion. ing tryover the If Gordon has a secret weapon on the road courses, it’s crew chief Ray Evernham, who honed in the past two races, Gordon has won and Martin hasbeen sec- ond. In fact, Martin goesintoto- Chris Gardner The Associated Press Fans close in on NASCARdriver Jeff Gordonfor autographs after he qualified for the Bud at the Glen pole position Friday. gies in the International Race of Champions straight races. “With the IROCcars, a lot about road racing,” “Like they say, second place is the first loser,” Martin said. “I’m y knew Gordon Hendrick Motorsports] every need to like it and to have fun with road racing. You've got to know what you need: gearing, handling and, with around.” It would appear that Martin has a good chance of doing just that pretty tricky. I know what I want and the team is able to give it to me." nant driver in the last nine years. During that period, Martin has That does not bring comfort to Martin, who, unlike two-time series champion Gordon, is trying to win his first title “You feel some pressure each week just to do the best you can,” Martin said. three wins (1993-95) and has not finished worse thanfifth. But the big roadblock is Gordon, who suddenly has become a master road racer. First, he won last year at this picturesque track straight year the track qualifying record has beenbroken. Joining him onthe front row for the race todaywill be Jimmy of qualifying, will start third. This is the third time this sea- son and fourth in his career that Franchitti has been the fastest qualifier. He will be on the front rowfor the fourth timein thelast s, but he’s looking for his all the different corners, it can get on the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course where hehas been a domi- It’s the ninth fastest time in Friday's first day BUD AT THEGL = Thelineup for today's Bud atthe t renthe ff Gordon, Valeo, Calif, Chevrolet, 1203 i Fellows, Canada. Chevrolet, 12000 Ford. 119 Fort 119.910 Ford, 119.780 lot about road racing over the years and grow together. You week. We need to get that turned central Ohio. Vasser. Bryan Herta, who had the said. “We've been able to learn a tired of running goodandlosing 10points to them [Gordonand his le, 13-turn road coursein thehills of north- his mechanical skills and strate- day’s 90-lap, 220.5-mile event haying been a runner-upin three Ohio — Dario Saturday for the CART Miller He starts from the pole today — road course at Watkins Glen International. He’d much prefer to SSOCIATED PRESS LEXINGTON, Franchitti won the poleposition the only other road course the Glen NASCAR race on the Scottish driversets track recordin final qualifying try 9.38) Erie Ira 10, (88)Dale Jaret. Hickory. NC. Fond, 19330, 11. (7) Geoff Bodine. Chemur NY, d Ford, 119.447 2 (5) Terry Labonte, Corpus Christ, Texas, Chevrolet 119.383, 13; 40)Sterling Marin, Columb 14.4) Bobby Hanlon, Nashville 15 (16)Ted Musgrave, Franklin, W 16 Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo, Chevrolet 1743) John Andrelt, Indianapolis, Pontiac anapo i “That was all we had on the last lap,” Franchitti said ona stifling day, The temperature was 96 dehad Lttle Spokane, Wash, Fo fp Ford Dick Thee, Wistons api Grasom, Gadsten,d. Coa Ala, Chest provisional over, NC Chesrlet ie, Spanaway. W Franklin ell Wal grees and the k temperature at 130, “I didn’t think really we had the answer here. “It was just a matter ofputting it all together on one lap. It's a verydifficult track where the car is goodin some corners andnot so good in others. But wedidit Franchitti will collect $410,000 if he wins today Vasser’s teammate, Alex Zan- ardi, wasthelast driverto sweep That was in Cleveland, 1997, 20 races ago. in July Jasser’s qualifying time in a Target-Chip ¢ nard-Hondawas eo Great tires, great batteries great prices. ae *Hassle-free *Wallet-friendly *Fast service *DieHard? batteries #30 Day Ride Guarantee *Alignments *Brakes eShocks PASSENGER TIRES PERFORMANCETIRES Starting al. 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