Gordon Gets Lead For Pole

Jeff Gordon outran the rain at Daytona International Speedway.

A winner five times already this year, Gordon was the fastest of the few to finish before showers postponed qualifying for Saturday’s Pepsi 400.

The defending champ’s speed of 188.869 mph could well earn the pole, even though 34 drivers will get a chance to bump him today. Among the nine drivers who took the track Thursday before the rain came, Gordon’s speed was the best by more than 2 mph.