Gordon muses first ever Provisional.

Four times Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon will be in a very unfamiliar position at the start of Sunday's Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, mired back amongst the Provisional starters for the first time in his ten-year Winston Cup career.

After bursting onto the Winston Cup scene at the start of the 1993 season Jeff Gordon came within one race of completing ten full seasons in NASCAR's highest division without using a Provisional start before his incredible streak came to an end on Friday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Fate struck Gordon and his #24 Hendrick Motorsports team a cruel blow when Gordon drew qualifying position number one for Friday's Bud Pole session at the 1.5-mile oval. When Gordon made his qualifying run the track was baked in hot sunshine under clear blue skies and Gordon was only able to set down a best time of 35.981secs, a full two tenths slower than his best time from morning practice.

Even worse was to follow for as the session wore on, the track temperature decreased and clouds moved across the Speedway. This meant that times got quicker and as the last of the 51 cars went out to qualify, Gordon found himself on the Provisional bubble in 36th position.

The situation was simple, if Ricky Rudd lapped faster than Gordon his record would be broken, if he lapped slower Gordon's record was preserved into another season. With track temperatures almost ten degrees cooler Rudd was able to achieve a best time of 35.441secs and send Gordon into Provisional land.

Using a Provisional didn't actually make any difference to Gordon's starting position, for being the highest placed driver in points amongst the Provisional qualifiers, Gordon was given the 37th starting slot. What will concern the quadruple Winston Cup Champ more than his grid slot will be the lack of form he showed in Saturday's two practice sessions.

Knowing that a good start is essential to his victory bid on Sunday, Gordon will have been dismayed to have finished only 29th fastest in Happy Hour on Saturday although he was a more encouraging eighth quickest in Saturday's opening practice period.

Although he may be down at the moment, don't be surprised if you here Gordon telling the media that he wants to use a Provisional every week come Sunday evening.