Daytona 500: Notebook

Gordon's car fails inspection

He won the second Daytona 500 qualifier but now will start 42nd; team won't be fined.

Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon will move to the rear of the starting field for Sunday's Daytona 500 after his car failed post-race inspection following the second Duel 150 qualifying race.

Gordon won that race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, and the victory stands in the record books. But NASCAR officials said that because they felt the infraction -- the car was an inch low -- was unintentional, the team will not be docked points or endure any monetary fine.

But Gordon, who would have started the Daytona 500 from the outside of the second row, now will start 42nd in the 43-car field. The 43rd position is received for the most recent eligible past champion.

"We feel it was unintentional," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "It was a part failure and unintentionally done."

Pemberton said the quarter panels were an inch low because the bolt and mount of the rear shocks were misaligned.

"I'm mad about that right now," Gordon said when first informed that his car might not pass inspection. "I hate to hear that. If we're talking a millimeter, that's one thing. If we're talking a half an inch, then that's something different."

This will be the worst starting position for Gordon since he started 39th in 2004. He managed to finish eighth that year.

Stewart seeks elusive win

Could this be Tony Stewart 's year to win the Daytona 500?

"I hope so," he said after winning the first Duel 150 qualifier Thursday. "I feel like this is the best opportunity we've had."

Stewart has won 10 times on this track, including the past two Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup races. He also won the Bud Shootout last Saturday, but has yet to win a Daytona 500 in eight starts.

Is the ninth time the charm?

"I hope we've got one more in us," Stewart said referring to victories during Speedweeks. "This is the most momentum we've had going into the 500."

He led 37 of the 63 laps in the qualifying race and will start third in Sunday's Daytona 500.

"We'll wait and see," Stewart said, when asked about his chances to win. "I'm excited about it. I wish the race was (today)."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. , who finished second, said pole-sitter David Gilliland might have the best chance to challenge Stewart.

"That 38 car (Gilliland) looks really, really good," Earnhardt said. "He had some opportunities to get around me and a couple guys, and he chose to be patient. I thought that was very wise."

Four for Toyota

Of the eight Toyota Camrys that attempted to make the field, four succeeded.

They are: Michael Waltrip , Dale Jarrett , David Reutimann and Dave Blaney . Jarrett made the race using a past champion's provisional.

"It is pretty phenomenal, especially since I've been dreaming about this my whole life," Reutimann said. "I'm just blessed that we are in it."

No record for Hylton

James Hylton , the 72-year-old attempting to become the oldest driver to start a Daytona 500, finished 23rd in the first Duel 150 and failed to qualify.

"I don't remember the last time I had that much fun," said Hylton, who was running in eighth six laps from the finish but finished 23rd. "I don't think anybody deserves that much fun."

Hylton said he wants to be an example for senior citizens and show them they can realize their dreams.

He will return to Daytona International Speedway for the Pepsi 400, and among the handful of races he intends to attempt this season is the Aug. 19 race at Michigan International Speedway.

"I hope I didn't let them down," Hylton said of his fellow seniors. "I did the best I could. We'll get them next time."

Montoya finding a way

Juan Pablo Montoya , the Colombian driver who left Formula One to compete in the Nextel Cup series, held the lead in the second Duel qualifying race when he hit the wall after a tire went down.

He finished 30th (last) but will start Sunday's race.

"I've got to say my experience here so far has been pretty good," Montoya said. "It's nice to see the car run competitive. It was awesome running up front, no complaints.

"All the guys in the front didn't want to do anything. We didn't want to wreck or get into racing. I learned how to run through the corners, and I think we'll be fine Sunday."

Pit stops

Mark Martin will compete in three NASCAR Busch series races for Hendrick Motorsports, including Aug. 18 at Michigan. He is competing in two Busch races for Roush Racing, as well.

... Bobby Hamilton Jr. , driver of the No. 35 Ford Fusion, will pay tribute to his late father, Bobby Hamilton Sr. , with a special paint scheme for Saturday's Busch race. The car will look like Hamilton Sr.'s car that he drove to a Cup victory at Talladega in 2001.

... Shell Oil Company is marking its return to NASCAR as the main sponsor of Kevin Harvick 's car with a multiple-level marking plan, including a chance for fans to star in videos with Harvick.

An interactive tour will visit 15 cities this spring.