Jeff Gordon has ruled out surgery on his aching back and hopes the daily treatments he receives at the track will ease the pain he's felt for more than a year.

The four-time Sprint Cup series champion said he might opt instead for a repeat of a procedure he had in May, which typically calls for an injection of lidocaine or anti-inflammatory medication. He said that may take place in four to six weeks.

Gordon caught a break with Friday's rainout at Pocono, meaning the lineup for Sunday's 500-mile race will be determined by driver points. Gordon will start second.

MAYFIELD UPDATE: NASCAR has filed a countersuit in federal court against driver Jeremy Mayfield and denied each of the suspended driver's arguments why his failed drug test should be overturned.

Mayfield was suspended May 9 for failing a random drug test conducted eight days earlier at Richmond International Raceway.

INDYCAR SERIES: Before his disappointing and abbreviated attempt in NASCAR last year, Dario Franchitti had an IndyCar Series championship season in which he also won the Indianapolis 500.

"I kind of took it for granted at the end of '07, lost my motivation," Franchitti said. "I haven't regretted it for a second to come back."

Franchitti already has a victory and three other top-10 finishes through the first five races in his return to the IndyCar Series.

He will start on the pole for tonight's race at Texas Motor Speedway.