Motorsports

Newlywed Gordon takes pole in Arizona

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 11, 2006

AVONDALE, Ariz. - The honeymoon in the desert continued for Jeff Gordon, who won the pole Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.

The four-time series champion married Belgian model Ingrid Vandebosch in Mexico on Tuesday, then brought his new bride to the race track to help him celebrate the 56th pole of his career. He turned a lap of 134.464 mph in his Chevrolet to take the top starting spot for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500.

"It's been a great week, I'll tell you that," he said. "The vibe has been carrying on through the weekend. I hope it carries on a lot longer than that, too."

BUSCH: The last time Sam Hornish and former Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya were on the track together was six years ago in the Indianapolis 500. If all goes according to plan, the two Indy 500 winners will be piloting stock cars today at Phoenix International Raceway. Hornish, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, will attempt to make his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series race at Phoenix.

TRUCKS: Johnny Benson spun on the first lap, then came from the back of the field to win the Casino Arizona 150 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale. Todd Bodine, who finished fourth, has a 112-point lead over Benson heading into next week's finale in Homestead.

CHAMP CAR: St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais clocked the fastest time in qualifying sessions, logging 1:25.449 at Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

NHRA: Tony Schumacher led Top Fuel qualifying in the Auto Club NHRA Finals with a 4.506-second run at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. Del Worsham, Jason Line and Andrew Hines also topped their divisions in the season-ending event.

[Last modified November 11, 2006, 02:29:32]