Gordon, Sadler win qualifying races for Sunday's Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Gordon thinks it's far too early to label him the Daytona 500 favorite.

But based on his early Speedweeks showings and an outstanding string of success in the Great American Race, he's the only one who doesn't think he's once again the driver to beat.

Gordon staked his claim Thursday by winning one of the twin qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway that is used to set the field for Sunday's season opener. Elliott Sadler won the first race, which also had strong runs from Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart.

"I don't know how you can just pick one guy, there's strong cars out here," Gordon said. "I felt like [Sadler] was really strong in that first race. I know that Tony and Junior and Jimmie and those guys who weren't in our race are going to be strong."

Gordon, coming off a disappointing season that saw him miss the Chase for the championship, wants to start 2006 out on a high note. Daytona is the perfect place for him to do it: He's the defending race winner and a three-time 500 champion.

So when considering his entire body of work, Gordon finally acknowledged that he's got a good chance Sunday.

"I think with our track record here at Daytona, with the performance that we've got going for us already this week, I'd like to think that we're one of the favorites," he said. "But whether we're the guy to beat or not, we'll find out in the closing laps of the 500."

Gordon will face a stiff challenge in the main event from Sadler, who is having a stout week for his Robert Yates Racing team. Sadler was fourth in time trials and was dominating in his victory.

"It feels pretty good," he said. "We beat them all pretty handily."

Sadler also won a qualifying race in 2004, only to fade to a seventh-place finish in the 500.

And teammate Dale Jarrett was in the same spot last season after winning a qualifier, and he wound up a disappointing 15th.

But Sadler believes his team is more prepared at the start of the season than ever before.

"From a mental standpoint, not from a nut-and-bolts thing with the race car, but from a mental standpoint I think this team is more focused and more ready to go," Sadler said. "I feel like I'm the quarterback of this race team. It's time for me to act like it."

The qualifying races are used to set the field for the Daytona 500, and 23 drivers went into Thursday vying for the four open spots on the starting grid.

Kevin LePage and Bill Elliott each raced their way in during the first event, then Mike Wallace and Kirk Shelmerdine grabbed the other two spots.