The Associated Press

Ryan Newman celebrates after winning the MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

DOVER, Del. - Victory eased the pain Ryan Newman felt after muscling a 3,400-pound stock car around the track for half the afternoon.

Newman lost his power steering with about 180 laps to go, but not his determination, and held off Jeff Gordon to win Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

"I'm definitely tired," Newman said. "My arms hurt, my back hurts, my neck hurts, and I'll be really sore tomorrow and probably Tuesday."

The victory in the MBNA 400 gave Newman what he hopes will be the momentum to move into contention in the Winston Cup points race.

"You can feel the momentum, but all it takes is one of those things," he said, alluding to the kind of problems that have plagued him this season.

After making a charge that carried him late last season to a sixth-place finish in the series and rookie of the year status, Newman has had a difficult start in 2003. No one had failed to finish more races.

This time, he overcame adversity. The burly driver had enough strength to keep Gordon behind him when the four-time series champion tried to dive underneath in Turn 1 after the green flag waved for the final time with six laps to go.

"He raced me clean, and I appreciate that," Newman said. "He could have tapped me and got me loose. I was proud to race with him."

Crew chief Matt Borland was proud of his 25-year-old driver.

"The Kid did an awesome job," Borland said.

Gordon agreed.

"Ryan's very smooth and runs a good line," Gordon said. "He deserves to be in Victory Lane today."

But Gordon and third-place finisher Bobby Labonte thought Tony Stewart would have won had it not been for a one-lap penalty for pitting slightly out of the box.

Stewart, easily the fastest car in the field, recovered to finish fourth. He had no comment after the race.

But crew chief Greg Zipadelli thought NASCAR's sanctioning body was nitpicking.

"We weren't over the line, we were on the line by an inch," he said. "What are you going to do? A rule's a rule."

After the Chevys of Labonte and Stewart came the Pontiac of Johnny Benson.

The winner's average speed was 106.896 in a race slowed nine times by caution for 68 laps. There were 16 lead changes among 10 drivers.

Rusty Wallace was sixth, followed by Matt Kenseth, who now leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 171 points. Earnhardt finished 11th after being forced to start at the rear of the field because he wrecked his car in practice Saturday and used a backup. Eighth was Ricky Craven, followed by Robby Gordon and Terry Labonte.

NASCAR Winston Cup

MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 Results

Sunday

At Dover International Speedway

Dover, Del.

Lap length: 1-mile oval

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (1) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 400 laps, 106.986 mph, $199,325.

2. (9) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 400, $176,228.

3. (13) Bobby Labonte, Chevrolet, 400, $139,333.

4. (11) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 400, $145,253.

5. (30) Johnny Benson, Pontiac, 400, $110,975.

6. (2) Rusty Wallace, Dodge, 400, $110,097.

7. (4) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 400, $87,985.

8. (20) Ricky Craven, Pontiac, 400, $95,565.

9. (38) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 400, $99,747.

10. (8) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 400, $97,641.

11. (12) Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevrolet, 400, $106,692.

12. (21) Todd Bodine, Ford, 400, $83,110.

13. (19) Jamie McMurray, Dodge, 400, $68,970.

14. (28) Jeff Burton, Ford, 399, $98,652.

15. (7) Kurt Busch, Ford, 399, $95,685.

16. (16) Michael Waltrip, Chevrolet, 399, $78,935.

17. (24) Ricky Rudd, Ford, 399, $82,950.

18. (32) Mark Martin, Ford, 399, $97,968.

19. (18) Mike Wallace, Dodge, 398, $72,199.

20. (26) Dave Blaney, Ford, 398, $73,335.

21. (3) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 398, $71,885.

22. (14) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 398, $98,668.

23. (36) Kenny Wallace, Dodge, 398, $63,785.

24. (37) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 397, $62,630.

25. (33) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 396, $84,942.

26. (25) Ken Schrader, Dodge, 396, $62,205.

27. (23) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 395, $97,833.

28. (43) Larry Foyt, Dodge, 394, $58,880.

29. (31) Jimmy Spencer, Dodge, 393, $61,230.

30. (15) Greg Biffle, Ford, 387, accident, $59,090.

31. (42) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 382, $58,430.

32. (10) Steve Park, Chevrolet, 367, $66,270.

33. (17) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 331, $93,270.

34. (40) John Andretti, Dodge, 309, $93,688.

35. (6) Sterling Marlin, Dodge, 301, accident, $101,695.

36. (35) Mike Skinner, Pontiac, 298, $57,580.

37. (39) Ward Burton, Dodge, 279, engine failure, $93,526.

38. (5) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 277, accident, $76,760.

39. (29) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 255, engine failure, $103,028.

40. (22) Casey Mears, Dodge, 244, accident, $65,120.

41. (41) Jack Sprague, Pontiac, 215, accident, $56,995.

42. (34) Brett Bodine, Ford, 213, accident, $56,890.

43. (27) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 207, accident, $65,028.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 44 minutes, 31 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 0.834.

Caution Flags: 9 for 68 laps.

Lead Changes: 16 among 10 drivers.

Lap Leaders: R.Newman 0; R.Wallace 1-41; R.Newman 42-69; T.Stewart 70-116; R.Gordon 117-119; T.Stewart 120-139; R.Newman 140-203; J.Johnson 204-239; J.Gordon 240-278; M.Waltrip 279; J.Gordon 280-285; B.Labonte 286-319; J.Gordon 320-327; R.Newman 328-364; D.Earnhardt Jr 365-366; K.Busch 367; R.Newman 368-400.

Driver Standings: M.Kenseth, 1,945; D.Earnhardt Jr, 1,774; J.Gordon, 1,758; B.Labonte, 1,716; K.Busch, 1,698; M.Waltrip, 1,631; J.Johnson, 1,606; R.Wallace, 1,556; K.Harvick, 1,539; R.Gordon, 1,473.

Formula One

Monaco GP Results

Sunday

At Monte Carlo street circuit

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Lap length: 2.08 miles

1. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, Williams-BMW, 78 laps, 1 hour, 42 minutes, 19.010 seconds, 98.948 mph.

2. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes, 78, 0.602 seconds behind, 1:42:19.612.

3. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari, 78, 1.72, 1:42:20.730.

4. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Williams-BMW, 78, 28.518, 1:42:47.528.

5. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 78, 36.251, 1:42.55.261.

6. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Renault, 78, 40.972, 1:42:59.982.

7. David Coulthard, Britain, McLaren-Mercedes, 78, 41.227, 1:43:00.287.

8. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Ferrari, 78, 53.286, 1:43:12.276.

9. Cristiano Da Matta, Brazil, Toyota, 77, 1:43:24.502.

10. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Jordan-Ford, 77, 1:43:26.017.

11. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Sauber-Patronas, 76, 1:42:42.341.

12. Ralph Firman, Ireland, Jordan-Ford, 76, 1:43:07.630.

13. Olivier Panis, France, Toyota, 74, 1:43:06.947.

Not Classified

Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, BAR-Honda, 63 laps completed.

Justin Wilson, Britain, Minardi-Cosworth, 29.

Jos Verstappen, Netherlands, Minardi-Cosworth, 28.

Mark Webber, Australia, Jaguar, 16.

Antonio Pizzonia, Brazil, Jaguar, 10.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Germany, Sauber-Petronas, 0.

Jenson Button, Britain, BAR-Honda, did not start.

Drivers Standings

(After seven of 16 races)

1. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, McLaren-Mercedes, 48 points.

2. Michael Schumacher, Germany, Ferrari, 44.

3. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Renault, 29.

4. Rubens Barrichello, Brazil, Ferrari, 27.

5. Juan Pablo Montoya, Colombia, Williams-BMW, 25.

6. David Coulthard, Britain, McLaren-Mercedes, 25.

7. Ralf Schumacher, Germany, Williams-BMW, 25.

8. Jarno Trulli, Italy, Renault, 13.

9. Giancarlo Fisichella, Italy, Jordan-Ford, 10.

10. Jenson Button, Britain, BAR-Honda, 8.

11. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Germany, Sauber-Petronas, 7.

12. Mark Webber, Australia, Jaguar 4.

13. Cristiano Da Matta, Brazil, Toyota, 3.

14. Jacques Villeneuve, Canada, BAR-Honda, 3.

15. Nick Heidfeld, Germany, Sauber-Petronas, 1.

16. Ralph Firman, Ireland, Jordan-Ford, 1.

Constructors Standings

1. McLaren Mercedes, 73.

2. Ferrari, 71.

3. Williams-BMW, 50.

4. Renault, 42.

5. Jordan-Ford, 11.

6. BAR-Honda, 11.

7. Sauber-Petronas, 8.

8. Jaguar, 4.

9. Toyota, 3.

CART

Milwaukee Mile Centennial 250 Results

Saturday

At The Milwaukee Mile

West Allis, Wis.

Lap Length: 1.032 miles

1. (1) Ryan Dalziel, Toyota/Swift, 70.

2. (4) Kyle Krisiloff, Toyota/Swift, 70.

3. (3) A.J. Allmendinger, Toyota/Swift, 70.

4. (2) Jonathan Macri, Toyota/Swift, 70.

5. (6) Aaron Justus, Toyota/Swift, 70.

6. (7) Danica Patrick, Toyota/Swift, 70.

7. (10) Alex Figge, Toyota/Swift, 70.

8. (11) Stephan C. Roy, Toyota/Swift, 70.

9. (13) Joey Hand, Toyota/Swift, 69.

10. (12) Tony Ave, Toyota/Swift, 69.

11. (8) Michael Valiante, Toyota/Swift, 68.

12. (14) Alex Garcia, Toyota/Swift, 67.

13. (9) Luis Diaz, Toyota/Swift, 64, mechanical.

14. (5) Hoover Orsi, Toyota/Swift, 31, contact.

Time of Race: 34:12.338.

Average Speed: 126.716 mph.

Margin of victory: 0.339 seconds.

Lap leaders: Dalziel, 1-70.

Caution Flags: Two for nine laps.

Championship standings: 1. Allmendinger, 44; 2. Macri, 42; 3. Macri, 39; 4. Valiante, 38; 5. Dalziel, 34; 6. Figge, 30; 7. Patrick, 26; 8. Krisiloff, 23; 9. Diaz, 20; 10. Hand, 18.