Jeff Gordon left Daytona International Speedway with a severely damaged
AARP Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, after being swept-up in a multi-car crash
during the second day of Preseason Thunder Testing. While his car was much the
worse for wear, Gordon spoke optimistically about NASCAR’s new Gen-6 race car
“I don’t know what
started (the wreck),” said Gordon. “I know we were in a pack drafting, just
trying to learn the cars and what this aero package is doing. Some guys started
forming a line on the inside and things started getting a little more
aggressive at that point. Somebody must have turned or got turned or something
and then they just all started stacking up.”
The former series champion admitted he was “not surprised at all”
by the crash, saying, “we see it every year. Maybe not quite this big, but you
get down here in packs. It’s important to be in those packs and learn what you
can learn, especially with a new car.
“I think you can kind
of weigh into both sides of it,” said Gordon. “You know when the cars are
starting to push and move around a lot more that the chances are getting higher
that something is going to happen. I saw some things happen a couple of laps
before that. You just ride it out and hope you can make it through it.
Unfortunately, we didn’t in this case.”
Looking over a dozen damaged machines, Gordon nonetheless said he expects
NASCAR’s new rule package tp produce competitive racing.
“The cars drive pretty
well,” he said. “You can’t push, which I think is a good thing. You can get to
the guy’s bumper, but the cars don’t line up very well. You really shouldn’t
even be doing it. Unfortunately, that is the last little bit of momentum you
need to make a pass, or make your lane move. So it’s something that is going to
have to be dealt with very carefully.
“You are going to have
to be cautious when you do it, and do it with the right guys,” he said. “But
most of the time, you’re going to need to stay away from it. The cars really
get good momentum by themselves, but they run side-by-side for a long time so
it’s not easy to complete the pass.”
The Hendrick Motorsports driver called NASCAR’s new rules combo “a great package. I
love it. We have gotten so comfortable with (pushing) on one another’s bumpers
that we have to kind of start over again. We have to reset a little bit and go
back to the way we used to do it, where you get close… gain momentum and push
guys with the air, not the bumpers.”
Gordon as usual is wrong when he says it's a good thing they can't push - first of all they CAN push; it's just a matter of figuring out how to do it. Second of all, push-drafting is what makes passing happen, and this makes NASCAR's jihad against tandem drafting so stupid. As racers Gordon and company should WANT to tandem draft since it is by far the most effective power to pass in racing history.
ReplyDeleteTandem drafting isn't racing. Its riding around for 500 miles glued to someone's bumper waiting until the end. Pushing has gotten way out of hand and its a good thing they're going away from it, cause all it does is cause crashes. How many times have guys been "accidently" turned cause of that nonsense? Way too many times.
ReplyDeleteYou're wrong, Scott. Tandem drafting IS racing. It's unlimited passing and the lead changes show it. Pushing wasn't out of hand, and the stupid crashes were more prevalent before, not after.
DeleteAnonymous - never mind what Gordon says, look at what the RACING ITSELF says.
DeleteWow......Monkeesfan.......Thanks for your brilliannce! I rarely have been so impressed by someone who considers a 4 time Champion, third biggest winner all time with multiple victories at Daytona as well as Talladega, WRONG AS USUAL. Could you tell us some some stories about all the races you've won as you must be even better!!!!
ReplyDeleteSpaw