 Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining tipifarnib with gemcitabine and cisplatin in treating patients who have stage III or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy such as gemcitabine and cisplatin use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Tipifarnib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Combining tipifarnib with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. 