Chevy NASCAR Notes - J.Gordon, Post-Practice

 

CHEVROLET NOTES & QUOTES

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES

GOLDEN CORRAL 500 - POST PRACTICE

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

March 18, 2005

 

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO:

(HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PENALTIES PUT FORTH ON JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TEAM?) "I think they are in a position today to handle it in the best way possible. You know, Chad is a key part of that race team and I don't know if they can step up as much as if he's there but I know they are going to be driven to do what they can to maintain the momentum and the great runs that they've had."

 

(DO YOU AGREE WITH NASCAR IN THEM FINDING WAYS TO GET THE PENALTIES TO HURT MORE? WE JOKE ABOUT...YOU KNOW, $25,000 IS TIP MONEY TO A LOT OF GUYS) "Yeah, I agree. You know, to me there are other ways of severity that gets the attention. You know, honestly I question why we have wins that stick when they don't make the post-race inspection. Every situation is looked at in a different way and my biggest concern with this one-with the #48, especially-is that it's obvious that you would never want your car to be low at a speedway like Las Vegas. I anything you're going to try to get it higher to make it have more downforce and it was obvious that they had a jack pulled back down and that's why we want to appeal it and do what we can to at least get the suspension deal backed off. I understand if your car is high or your car is low, you're going to get some kind of penalties."

 

(DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT THE CHEATER WORD IS BEING USED WITH THIS INCIDENT?) "Oh, absolutely. Everybody out here is pushing the limits of the cars and the rules. And, you know, it's not anybody trying to cheat the system. It's everybody doing what they can to win the race. And you know, when other people are out there doing it...the biggest thing you have to look at is that they take five Top 5 cars and one random. And you don't know what some of those other cars are out there doing that take their chances if they're not going to be in the Top 5 or about being the random. 

 

"And that's what we're up against. We're up against cars trying to get their lap back, or doing whatever they can and the only real way to do is to take every single car through every pre-race and post-race inspection."

 

(YOU QUALIFY AT NIGHT. YOU PRACTICE ON A SUNNY AFTERNOON, QUALIFY AT NIGHT, LOCK THEM UP AND THEN RACE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS THAT?) "Well, you know, we race pretty much race practice during the day so we have somewhat of an idea of the conditions but there's not nearly as much rubber on the track right now. The groove hasn't moved up yet. 

 

"I wish we were doing all of this on Saturday, not on Friday. And, you know, I think in tonight's qualifying you're going to see a big spread in who's up front and who's in the back versus who's going to be in the back during the race."

 

(DO YOU HAVE WHAT NORMALLY WHAT NORMALLY WOULD BE A LOOSE RACE CAR TONITE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY WELL OR DO YOU QUALIFY TIGHT TO HAVE SOMETHING REASONABLE ON SUNDAY?) "I mean, you've got to try to compromise as best you can. There are only so many adjustments you can make. In order for the car to be good here during the race, you've got to start out a little loose. When you put the tape on the front of the car it's extremely loose. So, we're trying to find adjustments to make to keep the car underneath me in a snug or tight way when we go to qualify. It's hard to do."