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NASCAR WCUP: Brickyard 400 Qualifying Wrap Up

6 August 1999

Bud Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon

* Jeff Gordon won the NASCAR Winston Cup Bud Pole for the Brickyard 400, lapping the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 50.108 seconds, at 179.612 mph. He broke Ernie Irvans track-qualifying record of 50.169 seconds, at 179.394 mph, set in 1998.

* This is Gordons 30th career NASCAR Winston Cup Bud Pole and came in his 209th start. His most recent Bud Pole occurred at New Hampshire in July, two races ago.

* This is Gordons seventh Bud Pole and 14th top-10 qualifying effort of 1999. It is his third Bud Pole and his fifth start of third or better in six NASCAR Winston Cup races at Indianapolis. His remaining start here was 24th in 1997.

* There have been 10 different Bud Pole winner in 1999. Jeff Gordon (seven) and Bobby Labonte (four) are the only multiple Bud Pole winners this season.

* Only three drivers have won Bud Pole Awards in the six NASCAR Winston Cup races at Indianapolis: Rick Mast (1994), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1996 and 1999) and Ernie Irvan (1997 and 1998).

* Mark Martin had the second-quickest time with a qualifying lap of 50.296 seconds, at 178.941 mph and will join Gordon on the front row for the Brickyard 400. This is his 15th top-10 qualifying effort this season and his fourth top-10 qualifying effort in six NASCAR Winston Cup races at Indianapolis.

* This is the 11th Bud Pole for Chevrolet in 1999. Pontiac has five and Ford has three Bud Poles this season. Note: Qualifying was rained out at California.

* The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is worth $30,000 to the winner of the Brickyard 400 should he also be the points leader after the race.

* David Green (third) posted his first top-10 qualifying effort in 1999. His previous best qualifying effort this season was 17th at Dover and he had failed to qualify twice: Daytona in February and New Hampshire. He tied his NASCAR Winston Cup career-best qualifying effort set at Rockingham in February 1998. It is his second top-10 qualifying effort in two races at Indianapolis. He started ninth and finished 35th in 1997.

* Dale Jarrett (fourth) scored his eighth top-10 qualifying effort in 1999. It is his third consecutive top-three qualifying effort at Indianapolis. His best qualifying effort here prior to 1997 was 14th, in 1994.

* Michael Waltrip (fifth) posted his fourth top-10 qualifying effort in 1999. It is his best qualifying effort in six races at Indianapolis.

* Jeff Gordon remains the only driver to qualify in the first round in each of the qualifying sessions held this season.

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