NASCAR to Clarify Victory Lane Guidelines

CHARLOTTE, N.C. August 9, 2004; Jenna Fryer writing for the AP reported that NASCAR is expected to clarify its Victory Lane requirements this week after Jeff Gordon skipped the ceremony following his win at the Brickyard 400.

Gordon did not drive his car into Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Instead, he stopped his car on the track and got out, celebrating with his crew as they ran to join him.

By doing so, he avoided being seen with a large bottle of sports drink made by a NASCAR sponsor that conflicts with Gordon's sponsors.

"I'm sure I'm going to get in some kind of trouble over it," he said after the race. "But, you know what? Right now I don't care."

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said it was undecided Monday if Gordon would be penalized for failing to drive into Victory Lane.

However, Hunter said the sanctioning body would likely issue clarifications this week for what is expected from winning drivers after the race.

The winner's circle flap has been brewing for some time because NASCAR has made PowerAde the official sponsor of Victory Lane. PowerAde is made by Coca-Cola, and several drivers have sponsorship deals with Pepsi.

The Pepsi-backed drivers have taken offense to being photographed or televised with a huge blue bottle of PowerAde on top of their car. Initially, they were knocking the bottle off of their cars as they climbed out.

But NASCAR president Mike Helton told them three weeks ago not to touch the bottles.

Jimmie Johnson, Gordon's teammate, circumvented the order two weeks ago by placing a sign in front of the bottle after his win at Pocono Raceway. He was then fined $10,000 for it.

Although there is nothing in the rule book addressing what drivers are required to do, the entire celebration is a made-for-TV choreographed moment in which a driver is told to sit inside his car until the cameras are live so viewers at home can see their reaction when they climb out.

Once given the go-ahead to get out of the car, the Pepsi-sponsored drivers can not prevent being seen with the blue bottle on top of the vehicle.

Gordon said it was not his intent to avoid the PowerAde bottle, but was disappointed that his desire to celebrate on the track is now being scrutinized.

"To me, we take away so much from these victories when we pull into Victory Lane and it's all about getting the interview and it's all about putting the hat on, it's all about mentioning the sponsor," he said. "I want to just, you know, jump up and down and hang out with my guys."