Gordon Spins Out Kenseth, Takes Win

Matt Kenseth accused Jeff Gordon of spinning him out on Sunday inretribution for an accident earlier in the season.

Gordon's answer: So what if I did?

"I certainly didn't mean to wreck him," Gordon said. "But I didn'tmind moving him out of the way, either."

A bang from Gordon's bumper sent Kenseth spinning out of the leadwith four laps to go in regulation during Sunday's Nextel Cup race atChicagoland Speedway, allowing Gordon to hold on in a two-lapovertime period to win his second race of the season and 75th of hiscareer.

Kenseth, who dominated the second half of the race and appeared tobe on his way to his third win of the season when Gordon hit him,said Gordon did it on purpose to pay him back for a brush earlierthis season.

"That wasn't an accident," Kenseth said.

Kenseth tangled with Gordon during the March 26 race at BristolMotor Speedway in Tennessee, and Gordon shoved him during aconfrontation after the race.

Gordon said he didn't wreck Kenseth on purpose. But given therecent history between the two drivers and Gordon's hunger to racehis way into NASCAR's version of the playoffs, Gordon said Kensethshould have expected rough treatment.

"When it came down with five to go, he should have expected, if Icould get to his bumper, there was going to be some action," Gordonsaid. "One, because of what happened in Bristol -- and I'm notsaying I just was going to wreck him, but you better believe I wasgoing to make life difficult on him. And then number two, just 'causewe're hungry right now."

Kenseth took the lead on Lap 202 and held it for 62 laps. But asurge from Gordon in the closing laps allowed him to catch Kenseth inTurn 2. Gordon then tapped Kenseth's rear bumper with his frontbumper.

Second-place finisher Jeff Burton, a former teammate of Kenseth's,initially declined comment because he didn't see what happened.

But after wincing during a television replay, Burton said, "Matt'sa hard-nosed racer, and there'll be retribution for that, I'm sure."

Burton said if NASCAR isn't willing to issue rough drivingpenalties, it will be up to drivers to settle issues on the track.

"If NASCAR doesn't handle it, then we need to handle it," Burtonsaid. "And that's okay."

With Sunday's victory, Gordon climbed two spots to 10th in thestandings, improving his chances of qualifying for the 10-race,season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Kenseth's rough day didn't end with the Gordon incident. He ranout of gas and had to pit, then collided with David Stremme duringthe "green-white-checkered" overtime period officials added to theend of the race to allow it to finish under green. Kenseth finished22nd but remains second in the points standings to Jimmie Johnson.

Kyle Busch finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick and DaleEarnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Note: Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya will joinNASCAR's Nextel Cup series next season, reuniting with team ownerChip Ganassi to drive the No. 42 car. Montoya and Ganassi had successtogether in Indy-style racing before Montoya left for F1 in 2001.

"It's not how many millions you're making or how much money you'remaking," Montoya said at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. "It's amatter of, three years down the line, are you going to be excited atwhat you're doing or not? And three years down the line, when I lookat my career, I'll be a lot happier doing this."

NASCAR could benefit from the Colombian's star power andinternational appeal. Montoya will become the only foreign-born andnonwhite driver regularly competing in Nextel Cup racing.

Gordon Spins Out Kenseth, Takes Win

Matt Kenseth accused Jeff Gordon of spinning him out on Sunday inretribution for an accident earlier in the season.

Gordon's answer: So what if I did?

"I certainly didn't mean to wreck him," Gordon said. "But I didn'tmind moving him out of the way, either."

A bang from Gordon's bumper sent Kenseth spinning out of the leadwith four laps to go in regulation during Sunday's Nextel Cup race atChicagoland Speedway, allowing Gordon to hold on in a two-lapovertime period to win his second race of the season and 75th of hiscareer.

Kenseth, who dominated the second half of the race and appeared tobe on his way to his third win of the season when Gordon hit him,said Gordon did it on purpose to pay him back for a brush earlierthis season.

"That wasn't an accident," Kenseth said.

Kenseth tangled with Gordon during the March 26 race at BristolMotor Speedway in Tennessee, and Gordon shoved him during aconfrontation after the race.

Gordon said he didn't wreck Kenseth on purpose. But given therecent history between the two drivers and Gordon's hunger to racehis way into NASCAR's version of the playoffs, Gordon said Kensethshould have expected rough treatment.

"When it came down with five to go, he should have expected, if Icould get to his bumper, there was going to be some action," Gordonsaid. "One, because of what happened in Bristol -- and I'm notsaying I just was going to wreck him, but you better believe I wasgoing to make life difficult on him. And then number two, just 'causewe're hungry right now."

Kenseth took the lead on Lap 202 and held it for 62 laps. But asurge from Gordon in the closing laps allowed him to catch Kenseth inTurn 2. Gordon then tapped Kenseth's rear bumper with his frontbumper.

Second-place finisher Jeff Burton, a former teammate of Kenseth's,initially declined comment because he didn't see what happened.

But after wincing during a television replay, Burton said, "Matt'sa hard-nosed racer, and there'll be retribution for that, I'm sure."

Burton said if NASCAR isn't willing to issue rough drivingpenalties, it will be up to drivers to settle issues on the track.

"If NASCAR doesn't handle it, then we need to handle it," Burtonsaid. "And that's okay."

With Sunday's victory, Gordon climbed two spots to 10th in thestandings, improving his chances of qualifying for the 10-race,season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Kenseth's rough day didn't end with the Gordon incident. He ranout of gas and had to pit, then collided with David Stremme duringthe "green-white-checkered" overtime period officials added to theend of the race to allow it to finish under green. Kenseth finished22nd but remains second in the points standings to Jimmie Johnson.

Kyle Busch finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick and DaleEarnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Note: Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya will joinNASCAR's Nextel Cup series next season, reuniting with team ownerChip Ganassi to drive the No. 42 car. Montoya and Ganassi had successtogether in Indy-style racing before Montoya left for F1 in 2001.

"It's not how many millions you're making or how much money you'remaking," Montoya said at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. "It's amatter of, three years down the line, are you going to be excited atwhat you're doing or not? And three years down the line, when I lookat my career, I'll be a lot happier doing this."

NASCAR could benefit from the Colombian's star power andinternational appeal. Montoya will become the only foreign-born andnonwhite driver regularly competing in Nextel Cup racing.

Gordon Spins Out Kenseth, Takes Win

Matt Kenseth accused Jeff Gordon of spinning him out on Sunday inretribution for an accident earlier in the season.

Gordon's answer: So what if I did?

"I certainly didn't mean to wreck him," Gordon said. "But I didn'tmind moving him out of the way, either."

A bang from Gordon's bumper sent Kenseth spinning out of the leadwith four laps to go in regulation during Sunday's Nextel Cup race atChicagoland Speedway, allowing Gordon to hold on in a two-lapovertime period to win his second race of the season and 75th of hiscareer.

Kenseth, who dominated the second half of the race and appeared tobe on his way to his third win of the season when Gordon hit him,said Gordon did it on purpose to pay him back for a brush earlierthis season.

"That wasn't an accident," Kenseth said.

Kenseth tangled with Gordon during the March 26 race at BristolMotor Speedway in Tennessee, and Gordon shoved him during aconfrontation after the race.

Gordon said he didn't wreck Kenseth on purpose. But given therecent history between the two drivers and Gordon's hunger to racehis way into NASCAR's version of the playoffs, Gordon said Kensethshould have expected rough treatment.

"When it came down with five to go, he should have expected, if Icould get to his bumper, there was going to be some action," Gordonsaid. "One, because of what happened in Bristol -- and I'm notsaying I just was going to wreck him, but you better believe I wasgoing to make life difficult on him. And then number two, just 'causewe're hungry right now."

Kenseth took the lead on Lap 202 and held it for 62 laps. But asurge from Gordon in the closing laps allowed him to catch Kenseth inTurn 2. Gordon then tapped Kenseth's rear bumper with his frontbumper.

Second-place finisher Jeff Burton, a former teammate of Kenseth's,initially declined comment because he didn't see what happened.

But after wincing during a television replay, Burton said, "Matt'sa hard-nosed racer, and there'll be retribution for that, I'm sure."

Burton said if NASCAR isn't willing to issue rough drivingpenalties, it will be up to drivers to settle issues on the track.

"If NASCAR doesn't handle it, then we need to handle it," Burtonsaid. "And that's okay."

With Sunday's victory, Gordon climbed two spots to 10th in thestandings, improving his chances of qualifying for the 10-race,season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Kenseth's rough day didn't end with the Gordon incident. He ranout of gas and had to pit, then collided with David Stremme duringthe "green-white-checkered" overtime period officials added to theend of the race to allow it to finish under green. Kenseth finished22nd but remains second in the points standings to Jimmie Johnson.

Kyle Busch finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick and DaleEarnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Note: Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya will joinNASCAR's Nextel Cup series next season, reuniting with team ownerChip Ganassi to drive the No. 42 car. Montoya and Ganassi had successtogether in Indy-style racing before Montoya left for F1 in 2001.

"It's not how many millions you're making or how much money you'remaking," Montoya said at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. "It's amatter of, three years down the line, are you going to be excited atwhat you're doing or not? And three years down the line, when I lookat my career, I'll be a lot happier doing this."

NASCAR could benefit from the Colombian's star power andinternational appeal. Montoya will become the only foreign-born andnonwhite driver regularly competing in Nextel Cup racing.

Gordon Spins Out Kenseth, Takes Win

Matt Kenseth accused Jeff Gordon of spinning him out on Sunday inretribution for an accident earlier in the season.

Gordon's answer: So what if I did?

"I certainly didn't mean to wreck him," Gordon said. "But I didn'tmind moving him out of the way, either."

A bang from Gordon's bumper sent Kenseth spinning out of the leadwith four laps to go in regulation during Sunday's Nextel Cup race atChicagoland Speedway, allowing Gordon to hold on in a two-lapovertime period to win his second race of the season and 75th of hiscareer.

Kenseth, who dominated the second half of the race and appeared tobe on his way to his third win of the season when Gordon hit him,said Gordon did it on purpose to pay him back for a brush earlierthis season.

"That wasn't an accident," Kenseth said.

Kenseth tangled with Gordon during the March 26 race at BristolMotor Speedway in Tennessee, and Gordon shoved him during aconfrontation after the race.

Gordon said he didn't wreck Kenseth on purpose. But given therecent history between the two drivers and Gordon's hunger to racehis way into NASCAR's version of the playoffs, Gordon said Kensethshould have expected rough treatment.

"When it came down with five to go, he should have expected, if Icould get to his bumper, there was going to be some action," Gordonsaid. "One, because of what happened in Bristol -- and I'm notsaying I just was going to wreck him, but you better believe I wasgoing to make life difficult on him. And then number two, just 'causewe're hungry right now."

Kenseth took the lead on Lap 202 and held it for 62 laps. But asurge from Gordon in the closing laps allowed him to catch Kenseth inTurn 2. Gordon then tapped Kenseth's rear bumper with his frontbumper.

Second-place finisher Jeff Burton, a former teammate of Kenseth's,initially declined comment because he didn't see what happened.

But after wincing during a television replay, Burton said, "Matt'sa hard-nosed racer, and there'll be retribution for that, I'm sure."

Burton said if NASCAR isn't willing to issue rough drivingpenalties, it will be up to drivers to settle issues on the track.

"If NASCAR doesn't handle it, then we need to handle it," Burtonsaid. "And that's okay."

With Sunday's victory, Gordon climbed two spots to 10th in thestandings, improving his chances of qualifying for the 10-race,season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup championship.

Kenseth's rough day didn't end with the Gordon incident. He ranout of gas and had to pit, then collided with David Stremme duringthe "green-white-checkered" overtime period officials added to theend of the race to allow it to finish under green. Kenseth finished22nd but remains second in the points standings to Jimmie Johnson.

Kyle Busch finished third, followed by Kevin Harvick and DaleEarnhardt Jr.

NASCAR Note: Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya will joinNASCAR's Nextel Cup series next season, reuniting with team ownerChip Ganassi to drive the No. 42 car. Montoya and Ganassi had successtogether in Indy-style racing before Montoya left for F1 in 2001.

"It's not how many millions you're making or how much money you'remaking," Montoya said at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. "It's amatter of, three years down the line, are you going to be excited atwhat you're doing or not? And three years down the line, when I lookat my career, I'll be a lot happier doing this."

NASCAR could benefit from the Colombian's star power andinternational appeal. Montoya will become the only foreign-born andnonwhite driver regularly competing in Nextel Cup racing.