Newz Forum: AUTO: Jeff Gordon blames slow drivers

DARLINGTON, South Carolina (AP) Jeff Gordon could see trouble brewing early on in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 - and it had nothing to do with Darlington Raceway's much discussed SAFER barriers.

Gordon blamed drivers who can't keep up to speed for a scary looking wreck Sunday that sent him behind the wall at Darlington, where he's won six times. Gordon says he dodged the slower machines almost from the start, even radioing in before the accident that NASCAR should take them off the track.Soon enough, Gordon's fears came true. He slammed his front end hard into the wrecked, sideways machine of Andy Hillenburg in turn one, seriously damaging Gordon's Chevrolet.

Related Story's

Auto Racing

AJC News

Why did NASCAR even let these drivers on the course is that question we must ask. Should they inlist something to have a ranking high enough for the races?

they do have a minimum speed, however it's not just the speed they run, it's common courtesy to get out of the way of cars that are running faster than you. some of these rookies just don't get it, they think they can run with the big boys, when most of them can't. I don't know what can be done about situations like this but something does.

They still made the qualifing speed. There is also a certain speed all drivers have to run,otherwise they will be black flagged and not let back onto the track. The problem with Darlington is, its such a narrow track,with no room for slower cars.

I'm not sure about Nascar but in F1 the slower running car's move aside to let the Big Guns through.

If they was running that slow why wasn't they black flagged?

Originally posted by TRD
I'm not sure about Nascar but in F1 the slower running car's move aside to let the Big Guns through.

If they was running that slow why wasn't they black flagged?

Because he was not running that slow. Probably just a couple of mph slower than rest of the field. It was also an in-experanced driver. And there really isn't much room to move over in the first place.

The primary complaint Jeff has is the fact that NASCAR has to fill the field, by paying Hillenburg's and Rutman's so they have 43 starters.

Sponsors are thin this year, and there just arnt 43 cars to run this year.

There has been a little chatter about making the field smaller for short tracks, so the slow field-filler's in their second rate cars and inexperience, will not be a problem for the leaders and regular cup runner's.

you have to remember that jeff is a world class whiner and nothing is ever his fault, sure there are slower cars on the track, and there are faster cars, that is why it is a race...jeff has torn up his share of cars in his career, he needs to grow up.....not a jeff fan here..lol