Gordon Leads Hendrick in Texas ‘Happy Hour’

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 3, 2004) – Jeff Gordon was the quickest of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers in Saturday’s final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice session at Texas Motor Speedway, posting the 15th-best speed overall. On the ninth of 24 laps, Gordon toured TMS at 184.263 mph and 29.306 seconds in his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. The four-time Cup Series champion was followed by Brian Vickers in 23rd, Jimmie Johnson in 34th and Terry Labonte in 37th. Jeremy Mayfield was quickest in the “Happy Hour” session at 186.483 mph (28.957 seconds). Gordon was also the fastest HMS driver in Saturday’s early practice -- the first of two sessions on the day -- at 185.752 mph (29.071 seconds). He posted the 14th-best lap overall. Labonte was 15th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s/Delphi Chevy, while Vickers was 18th in the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Monte Carlo. Johnson was 27th in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Bill Elliott was atop the speed chart in the early session at 187.767 mph (28.759 seconds).