#41 Pennzoil Freedom 400
AUTO RACING; Elliott Triumphs While Gordon Stalls
HOMESTEAD, Fla., Nov. 11— For the longest time, this looked to be the day that Jeff Gordon would capture his fourth Winston Cup Series championship. But the hopes of Gordon, Nascar’s hottest driver, were dashed on Lap 152 of the Pennzoil 400 when he ran into the bumper of a competitor leaving pit road. Once Gordon banged his rainbow-hued Chevrolet into Jeff Green, he was forced to return to the Homestead Motor Speedway pits to repair his left front fender. End of chance. ”We fixed the fender, but the car was just never the same,” Gordon said. ”It just ruined our day.” With Gordon failing to seize the moment — he faded to 28th — the spotlight fell on 46-year-old Bill Elliott, who won his 41st Winston Cup race but his first in 227 races.