Jeff Gordon hopes he has NASCAR's top drivers right where he wants them Sunday: up front and overconfident.
Gordon owns the track record for a single lap around Michigan International Speedway, but he wrecked his primary car in qualifying, so he will start 21st in a backup Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Sunday's GM Goodwrench 400.That might be a big disadvantage for some. Not for Gordon.
The same thing happened last month in New Hampshire. On that occasion, Gordon roared through the pack to win the Slick 50 300-mile race, beating Morgan Shepherd across the finish line.
There is one slight difference this time, however.
"The last time we wrecked in qualifying, we were able to fix the same car and qualify it the next day," Gordon said after qualifying in second-round time trials Saturday. "It's going to take us a little longer to get this car back where we want it. It still needs some minor adjustments."
Bobby Labonte, looking for his second straight victory at MIS, will be on the pole for Sunday's race. Labonte, also driving a Chevy, edged Gordon for the victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400 on June 18.
It is the third career pole, second this season and first on a superspeedway for Labonte. He earned this pole with a lap of 184.403 mph on Friday. Ricky Rudd grabbed the No. 2 slot with a lap of 184.063 mph in his Ford Thunderbird.
But they'll both have their eyes on the rearview mirror, watching for Gordon.
"We're not exactly where we were last time," Labonte said. "We're going to shake the car down and get it back closer to the way it was last time. The track has changed a little bit since yesterday. It's a little snugger. It's got a little more rubber on it.
"It's a little too tight for us right now, but we're going to make some adjustments and hope they work."
Labonte will be driving the same car he won with in June at MIS. He also drove this machine to victory at Charlotte.
"I guess it's got to be my favorite car," Labonte said.
Mark Martin and John Andretti drove fast enough to start in the second row. Brett Bodine, Bill Elliott, Dick Trickle, Dale Earnhardt, Jeremy Mayfield and Kenny Wallace rounded out the top 10.