NASCAR WCUP: Jeff Gordon has work to do in 'The Winston'

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 19, 2001

Jeff Gordon

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (qualified 10th): "The lap time wasn't good and the pit stop wasn't good, so we've got some work to do. I'd like to put a lot into qualifying, but tomorrow night is when it really counts.

"I like The Winston a lot. Charlotte's a great track for it and the best in the business are in this event. It makes for exciting racing. And it is exciting racing for the drivers as well as for the fans. It's a win-win situation for everybody."

(In the two types of racing - The Winston vs. the 600 -- where do you know where to draw the line in how aggressive you get?) "In a 500 or 600 mile race here, you pretty much get yourself in line, and feel the car out, feel the competition out and take things as they come to you. You can set up a guy for five or 10 laps. Where here, you just go for the open hole. You can go to the outside, you can go to the inside, you just go wherever the guy in front of you isn't - that's where you go to try to make your move. That's why you see guys all over the track. You'll see them three and four wide - just taking advantage of every little opportunity - especially if you're in the back. The only way to make it to the front is to take a lot of chances."

(You were one of the qualifying favorites today. Did you get it done?) "No, we didn't get it done today, that's for sure. We weren't very fast on the racetrack, nor were we very fast in the pit stops. We didn't fare to good here in qualifying. But we feel like we've got a good car for tomorrow's race. It's a lot different deal when it's 30 (laps), 30 (laps) and 10 (laps), and I look forward to it."

(Where did it not go too well?) "The car feels good, the motor's real strong. I just don't know. We were off a good two or three-tenths on the racetrack and I don't know about the pit stop. I don't know exactly what it was. But I could tell it was missing a little bit. You've got to have everything go perfect here for qualifying for The Winston. But it doesn't win you the race."

Text provided by Nancy Wager

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.