Gordon Gets Helping Hand in Record-Tying Fourth Win in a Row

Jeff Gordon needed a little help for his drive into the NASCAR record book Sunday at Brooklyn, Mich. He got it from his pit crew.

Gordon became the seventh driver in modern NASCAR history to win four consecutive races, coming from far back to take the Pepsi 400. It was his first victory at Michigan Speedway.

Gordon took the lead for the first time with eight laps to go, following a pit stop in which crew chief Ray Evernham had two right-side tires replaced for the Chevrolet. He then pulled away for the victory, crossing the finish line 1.8 seconds ahead of Bobby Labonte’s Pontiac. Gordon averaged 151.99 mph.

“The car just needed to be tightened up,” Gordon said of the corrections to his car’s poor handling.

Dale Jarrett was third in a Ford, and defending champion Mark Martin--runner-up to Gordon each of the previous three races--was fourth in a Ford.

Gordon can break the record for consecutive victories Saturday night in Bristol, Tenn., where he has won four times--including once this season.

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Michael Schumacher won the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest to pick up ground in the Formula One championship race.

Schumacher, who won by 9.6 seconds and averaged 104.437 mph in the 190-mile race, has 70 points after earning 10 for the victory. Series leader Mika Hakkinen (77 points) scored only one point with a sixth-place finish.

David Coulthard was second and defending champion Jacques Villeneuve was third.

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Dario Franchitti, avoiding the troubles that plagued most of the top competitors, ran off with his first CART FedEx Series victory in the Texaco-Havoline 200 at Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Franchitti of Scotland beat defending series champion and current points leader Alex Zanardi to the finish line by 7.102-seconds. He averaged 127.145 mph.

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Kenny Brack of Sweden, gambling that he had enough fuel in a four-car dash to the finish, won the Indy Racing League’s Radisson 200 at Pikes Peak International Raceway at Fountain, Colo.

Brack, who averaged 133.515 mph in his second consecutive victory on the IRL circuit, stayed on the track after leader Robbie Buhl pitted for a splash of fuel on the 196th lap of the 200-lap event.

Defending champion Tony Stewart, running a close third near the end, also made a quick pit stop, and pole-sitter Billy Boat, in fourth place, ran out of fuel on the track.

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On a Run

With his victory Sunday, Jeff Gordon has won five of the last six NASCAR races. A look:

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Date Race Winner Runner-up June 28 Save Mart 350 Jeff Gordon Bobby Hamilton July 12 Jiffy Lube 300* Jeff Burton Mark Martin July 26 Pennsylvania 500 Jeff Gordon Mark Martin August 1 Brickyard 400 Jeff Gordon Mark Martin August 9 Bud at the Glen Jeff Gordon Mark Martin August 16 Pepsi 400 Jeff Gordon Bobby Labonte

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