AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Daytona Beach (Fla.) police have launched an investigation into how its officers handled NASCAR Chairman Brian France's auto incident earlier this week.

"If I find out that someone gave him [France] a break because of his last name, someone is going to have to look for a new job," Mike Chitwood, Daytona Beach police chief, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

France crashed into a tree after entering a parking lot near his condominium. A witness called 911. On the 911 tape, available on the News-Journal's Web site, the witness states that France drove his Lexus recklessly before hitting the tree.

France told police he spilled a drink in his car and that he "bumped into something.'' Police did not give France a field sobriety test because there was no probable cause, according to the News-Journal's story. France has not been charged with any crime.

Friday, NASCAR issued a statement about the incident.

"Brian France cooperated fully with the Daytona Beach Police Department on Monday night at the time of the incident and remains available for any follow-up questions they might have.

"France accidentally brushed against a tree or roadside stump on the narrow road leading to his apartment. No one was injured. The car he was driving had some minor damage.

"He went on to his condo and cooperated fully with police officers who had been called to the scene by a 911 operator.

"France said a Coke he was holding spilled into his lap as he was driving into his condo complex, momentarily diverting his attention from the road."

Quiet run

Jeff Gordon won the pole Friday for the Checker Auto Parts 500, but the talk was of his mid-week wedding to Belgium model Ingrid Vandebosch.

"I just wanted it to be private and small and intimate with friends,'' Gordon said of his wedding in Mexico.

On the track, Gordon qualified at 134.464 mph. Kevin Harvick, who won the spring race at Phoenix, qualified second.

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson qualified 29th. Matt Kenseth, who trails Johnson by 17 points, qualified 10th.

Pit stops

Engineer Mike Nelson is serving as Ryan Newman's crew chief this weekend and next weekend as Matt Borland skips the final two races for what the team calls personal time off. ... MB2 Motorsports announced that Peter Sospenzo will serve as Joe Nemechek's crew chief next season.