R. Gordon faces tall task after rough lap

SONOMA, Calif. -- Robby Gordon started 14th at Watkins Glen last year and won, so Friday's 24th-place qualifying effort doesn't overly concern him.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "It's one lap. We'll be fine."

Pole-sitter Jeff Gordon isn't so sure. Being that Watkins Glen is wider than Sonoma and boasts more passing zones, Jeff Gordon said comparing the two was like comparing Martinsville to Bristol -- Same type of track, completely different characteristics.

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"It's going to be tough, no doubt about it," Jeff Gordon said. "If you put me in that same position it would be very difficult for us. There's only two places to pass here, so he's going to have to be aggressive, which already puts you at risk.

"And then you're going to have to be risky in your pit strategy. All those factors work against you, but it doesn't make it impossible."

Robby Gordon certainly hopes not. Having swept both road course races last season, he entered the Dodge/Save Mart 350 weekend as a serious contender. He backed that up in practice, posting the session's fifth quickest lap despite battling a tight condition.

Prior to qualifying, the Cingular Wireless team loosened up the Richard Childress Racing machine. Too much, even. Gordon got loose during his qualifying lap and had to save the car more than once.

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"Tire hopped down there, and when it's doing that you can't turn, just have to keep going straight," Robby Gordon said. "We got lost a little bit in practice with our brake bias, and because the car was so tight, made some changes and never thought we'd have to turn the brakes back.

"We should've just given it more front grip. But we gave it enough that it picked the rear tires up and started chattering them. It wouldn't turn. We made a big adjustment, and it didn't work."

Subsequently, he posted his worst qualifying effort in seven starts at Infineon Raceway.

"Just have to keep the fenders on the car," he said. "It'll make it exciting, for sure."