Hmm...

MountaineerTom · March 30, 2003

Since when did drivers not get to race back to the line when going to caution?

Jeff Gordon just passed Matt Kenseth at the line, but NASCAR said it didn't count because Kenseth was backing off.

JonesNTN · March 30, 2003

Sounded like a bunch of BS to me.

BTW the FORD commercial about them domiating CUP last year is BS also. After all their bragging they fail to mention that out of all the cars they had in the field, none actually won the championship.

rervf23 · March 30, 2003

Sounds like the same BS as yesterday - the pass that

did not happen. But the penalty remains. I think NASCAR

changes their rules as they go along.

antig24 · March 31, 2003

I say Nascar should sell there rule book or something so people know the rules and NA$CAR can't make them up as they go.

JonesNTN · March 31, 2003

If they sold it, they would have more updates than MS windows.

MountaineerTom · March 31, 2003

Sounds like the same BS as yesterday - the pass that
did not happen. But the penalty remains. I think NASCAR

changes their rules as they go along.

Yep, that one too.

Elwood · April 1, 2003

To me this just adds to the mistakes made over the weekend by NASCAR. They robbed the #5 car in the BUsch race who clearly had the best car and was leading by black flagging him with about 9 laps left, b/c the car in front of him on the restart (that IMO shouldn't be allowed to start in front of the leader EVER) spun and he had to move to the inside to keep from wrecking. He didn't even pass him, just pulled up about halfway beside him. This put him in the back and he got caught up in a wreck.

They screwed up a few calls this weekend.

SFPegasus · April 1, 2003

After all, they call it "RACING", don't they???

BigPappa95 · April 2, 2003

It is not even a rule it is actually a so called "Gentlemans agreement" about racing back to the flag. Kinda like letting someone get there lap back. It is the lead drivers decision to let someone get or not get a lap back, it is also their decision to slow down and let cars behind them tkae the yellow first. NASCAR really blew it when they made Gordo go back. Kennseth shouldn't have let up.

City_Slicker · April 2, 2003

:werd:

General Lee 01 · April 2, 2003

I can understand where the rule came from.

IMO, it's kinda p*ssy to go for the lead when the leader slows down for the caution, and try to keep those cars a lap down.

It justs tells me that you feel insecure about your ablilities to hold off the competition, and your crew's ability to keep you out front\improve your position in the pits.

MountaineerTom · April 2, 2003

I can understand where the rule came from.

IMO, it's kinda p*ssy to go for the lead when the leader slows down for the caution, and try to keep those cars a lap down.

It justs tells me that you feel insecure about your ablilities to hold off the competition, and your crew's ability to keep you out front\improve your position in the pits.

I think it shows you've worked hard to get them a lap down and why give them back what you worked to get. I could result in a big difference in points an the end of the year.

Even though Gordon was in second, they were still a lap down to him too. If the leader thinks he should give some laps back, that don't mean the rest of the field shoul, or will, feel the same way. I think Gordon did the right thing.

BigPappa95 · April 2, 2003

I wouldn't have mattered if the lapped cars passed Gordon or not, they had to pass Kennseth to get their lap back. They would have started on the inside lane next to the lead lap cars regardless of whether or not hey passed Gordon. Gordon was trying to get in the lead so he could run out front on the restart in that " clean air " he so loves. :thumb:

JonesNTN · April 2, 2003

IMO, it's kinda p*ssy to go for the lead when the leader slows down for the caution, and try to keep those cars a lap down.

I am sure you know opinions are like buttholes too.

I guess you would be correct if Gordon was as interested in helping drivers who weren't his teamates as he would be losing the race to them.

Just beacuse someone is leading the race, dosen't mean everyone behind them has to slow down when they do. It is a race, why would you allow someone to make up 2 miles on you fo free?

1. You owe them.

2. They are your teamate.

3. You expect the favor to be returned.

Now since Gordon didn't feel obligated to any of these, do you think he is a "p*ssy" because he was trying to win the race?

Do you think Richard Petty and Dale Sr. won 7 championships by giving laps back for free?

Elwood · April 2, 2003

First let me say, I'm not a Gordon fan, I can't stand him.

Now with that said, Gordon was completely right!!!

Michael Waltrip said in Inside WC that he talked to Jeff after the race and Jeff een said he didn't care if he got the lead, he was willing to go back behind Kenseth for the restart, but he did not want to give back laps to those cars.

The rule has always been that you can race back to the flag. The leader knows that if someone is close and he slows down they can pass him for the lead, gentlemen's agreement or not. I don't blame Gordon a bit, he had every right to do what he did for either reason (the lead or to keep them down). NASCAR was wrong and Gordon was right. If they're gonna start making people go back like that then they need to change the rule.

Wow, I never thought I'd be defending Jeff Gordon, but he had every right to do it. Just because Kenseth wanted to let Bush get a lap back didn't mean Gordon had to let him. I've actually seen Gordon NOT let Jimmie Johnson get a lap back going to a caution before, because he knew if he slowed down he would get passed for the lead. The leader has to decide what is more important, keeping the lead or letting your teammate back on the lead lap.