Gordon wins wild race

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- After two years of rebuilding his team and his confidence, the dominating Jeff Gordon is back.

The three-time Winston Cup champion solidified his points lead Sunday with his series-leading sixth victory of the season, pulling away from rookie Ryan Newman to win the crash-filled Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Gordon had to survive a wild 267-lap event on the 1.5-mile tri-oval that saw 13 caution flags and an 11-minute red flag stoppage before earning the 58th win of his career and his third in a first-time event.

Newman, who passed series runner-up Ricky Rudd for second place five laps from the end, wound up trailing Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet to the finish line by about five car-lengths.

"The secret is a team led by Robbie Loomis," said Gordon, praising the crew chief who replaced his former mentor Ray Evernham after the 1999 season. "They put an incredible car under us.

"This team is really good at new tracks, getting a lot of information and adapting quickly to a new environment. That's what has gotten us here battling for another championship and winning races."

Gordon, who won his titles in 1995, 1997 and 1998, has also won inaugural races in Indianapolis in 1994 and Fontana, Calif., in 1997.

Rudd held off Rusty Wallace and Sterling Marlin in a three-wide battle for third at the finish. After gaining 130 points on Gordon in the last two races, Rudd slipped 10 back and now trails by 222 with eight races remaining.

With cool temperatures -- highs in the low 70s -- and a new track, the race was punctuated by crashes. The only reported injury was to Dale Jarrett, who collided with Bobby Labonte and slammed into the concrete wall on lap 247.

The 1999 series champion was transported by helicopter to nearby Kansas University Medical Center for examination and observation after briefly losing consciousness in the crash. He was awake and alert and walked to the ambulance with help from safety workers after being removed from the car.

U.S. Grand Prix

INDIANAPOLIS -- Mika Hakkinen took advantage of two pit stops by Rubens Barrichello to win the United States Grand Prix by 11 seconds over Michael Schumacher.

The victory was Hakkinen's second of the season and 20th of his career.

-- From wire reports