DOVER, Del. -- At the age of 30, Jeff Gordon is discovering there are numerous pluses and minuses to being single.

The four-time Winston Cup champion is in the midst of a divorce from wife, Brooke, who was his constant companion for seven years. Now, he is on his own and feeling his way toward the future.

For anyone going through a divorce, it's a difficult time. For Gordon, whose life with Brooke was portrayed as a Ken and Barbie Doll romance, the past few months have been filled with speculation and tabloid coverage befitting a Hollywood star.

While many men experiencing a divorce might find it difficult to re-enter the dating scene, a million women, given the chance, likely would pursue Gordon.

"A million of the wrong women," he said, laughing. "There are a lot of adjustments. I'm trying to find the right balance."

Gordon took time to discuss his life during a break from practice for today's MBNA Platinum 400 Winston Cup race at Dover International Speedway. Sitting in his team's transporter, he was in good humor.

There have been stories in a supermarket tabloid about him dating a former stripper/model, but when asked if he's dating models, he shook his head.

"I'm not dating anybody," he said. "Brooke was my best friend and I spent time with her. I did everything with her. That's what I wanted to do.

"Now, I've found myself out there with other friends, rebuilding old friendships and making new ones. I have friends that go way back to high school and junior high. I lost touch with some of them, but I'm back in touch now. And I'm more in touch with my parents."

One evening, driver Ken Schrader's wife, Ann, came and knocked on the door of Gordon's motor home and invited him to a cookout. He went and enjoyed the evening with the Schraders and car owner Andy Petree. He has gotten closer to team owner Rick Hendrick and his son, Ricky, and he hangs out with his crew chief, Robbie Loomis.

He has bought a new motor home and, in Richmond, Va., a few weeks ago, he was host to a cookout for his team and Jimmie Johnson's, which he co-owns. However, his motor coach driver handled the cooking chores, not Gordon.

"If everyone wants to be able to eat, it's better if I'm not the cook," he said with a chuckle.

Winless in 20 starts this season, Gordon has won four times at Dover in dominating fashion. He said his team is on the verge of its first win of 2002 and that this is a good place to accomplish the task.

Yesterday, his position in today's race improved when three of the four men in front of him -- Matt Kenseth (blown engine), Jeremy Nadeau (crash) and Kurt Busch (crash) -- were forced to the back of the field for the start because they changed engines or went to backup cars. Ricky Rudd, the seventh-place starter, moved up to the pole position, and Gordon, in ninth, moved up to third.

Kenseth, still enjoying the glow of his first pole win, took the move to the back stoically.

"There's nothing I can do about it," he said. "You just have to make the best of the situation and hope you can still get to the front."

That's Gordon's attitude, as well, when he talks about this season's championship race.

"We're in the thick of the points race," he said. "I know we're 191 points out, but we're fourth in points and we're not having a bad season. Last year, when we left Charlotte, we were like 75 points behind first, and yet we won the championship by over 300 points. Anything is possible."

It is one of several lessons Gordon has learned this year. The most important: Life is never predictable.

"You never know where you're headed," he said. "There are no set plays. And I've learned friends and family are extremely important and you don't take any of them for granted.

"Now, I'm spending time with friends who are closer than before. You only have so much time. The one thing I miss is going to the movies. I haven't done that yet, though I tell myself I'd go alone if I really want to go."

He is spending more time with his team and Johnson's in Charlotte, N.C. He also is house-hunting in Charlotte and Florida while staying with Rick Hendrick, and taking life day-to-day. He is concentrating on starting over, working to avoid making the same mistakes.

"I've met girls, but my divorce isn't even over," Gordon said. "I'm not going through a divorce to get married to someone else. Being single again, I'm enjoying the parts that are enjoyable. I'm enjoying picking up and going and doing what I please.

"I'm sure there are going to be days when everyone is off doing something else and I'll be by myself. I don't have a problem with that right now and I hope I don't. I don't want to get to the point where I'm lonely and dive headfirst into a relationship with the first woman I meet at that point. I don't want to get into that trap."

Gordon said his life, at the moment, is filled with racing, testing, team morale, business and his divorce, "which has turned into a negotiation." But it won't always be that way.

"I'd be lying to say I'm not intrigued by the idea of dating and forging new relationships," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."

He then leaned back in his chair, looked out from under his Dupont baseball cap and, with a smile, said, "I have a wonderful life. I should enjoy it."

At a glance

What: MBNA Platinum 400

Where:Dover (Del.) International Speedway

When:Today, 12:30 p.m.

TV:FX

Pole-winner:Matt Kenseth

2001 winner:Jeff Gordon