IT'S ANYBODY'S CALIFORNIA 500 GORDON, EARNHARDT, BUSCH AMONG CONTENDERS IN WINSTON CUP RACE.

Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer

FONTANA - Today's NASCAR Winston Cup Auto Club 500 at California Speedway features the race's most wide-open field since its inaugural running in 1997.

A field of 43 cars will start the, and nearly a quarter of those on the grid have a good shot of finishing in front after 250 laps.

Consider the following:

--There have been nine different winners to open the 2003 season, one short of the record set in 2000. That list includes Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Ricky Craven, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Of that group, only Gordon has won at Fontana. Only Labonte and Jarrett are out of the top 10 in points.

``We certainly keep track of (the points) and we pay attention to it,'' Gordon said after winning at Martinsville, Va., in his last race. ``But I think it's too early to be racing for points. Right now, you just need to race as hard as you can for those top fives and top 10s and get those wins when you can.

``I think the points come by racing that way.''

Only Earnhardt, who has scored the most points in the past six races, is in the front five rows. Steve Park, his Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate, is on the pole at 186.838 mph.

Busch was the fastest in Happy Hour workouts Saturday, turning the fastest lap of 180.905. Newman was third at 179.897.

--Of the nine drivers who won in 2002 but have yet to triumph this season, two have finished first at Fontana: Jimmie Johnson is the defending champion and Mark Martin's victory in 1998 was sandwiched between Gordon's victories.

Martin has the most victories at the track, counting his pair of IROC races. He was fifth a year ago but 40th in 2001.

``You've got to handle good through these corners, that's what it's all about,'' said Martin, who starts 22nd today. ``You can't be short on gas mileage. That cost us one win the first year, but going through the corners is what it's all about.''

--Another driver who has put emphasis on the Fontana race is Rusty Wallace, who hasn't won on the Cup circuit since his victory here in 2001, a streak of 71 races.

``I've never gone two years in my life without winning in any series,'' said Wallace, who drives the Penske South Dodge and was second fastest in Saturday's practice. ``I've got a great car, and I can't wait to try to win it again. I think I can do it. You just keep doing it and it'll pop. I'm not in a performance slump. I'm in a not-having-won slump. A lot of people get that confused.''

--Not to be forgotten is the Ray Evernham factor. He was the crew chief for both of Gordon's victories and, in his current role as owner, will have the car alongside pole-sitter Park - Bill Elliott.

Elliott was second fastest in qualifying Friday, his sixth top-10 start of the year. Last year, in his first season in a Dodge, Elliott started 39th.

``I was tickled to death with what we ran,'' said Elliott, whose first Winston Cup victory was 20 years ago at the now-closed Riverside International Raceway. ``I think it's becoming more driving style that is any particular brand. Finally, I felt like I got the feel of what I liked from Michigan to here, and I've always been pretty good at Michigan.''

That's not good news for the rest of the field. Seven of Elliott's 43 Winston Cup victories are at Michigan, the prototype for the Fontana track.

``Give or take or whatever, I don't know that the brand really means anything any more than particular driving styles and somebody having it right for that particular moment,'' Elliott said. ``As competitive as the cars are today, if you have any problem, then you're normally finishing bad. It just makes it a little harder go.''

Jeremy Mayfield, Elliott's teammate, won the race in 2000. He'll start in the 11th spot.

AUTO CLUB 500

Today, 11:30 a.m.

TV: Ch. 11

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NASCAR WINSTON CUP: AUTO CLUB 500 LINEUP