Jeff Gordon, and NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty talk in the garage area during Friday’s practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Since Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s immediate future is in the hands of doctors, it’s appropriate that his substitute driver, Jeff Gordon, has also been brought in for a second opinion.
Not a medical opinion, mind you. But Gordon is invaluable in his role as a consultant for Hendrick Motorsports, and now that he’s behind the wheel of Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet, his opinions of the organization’s performance are all the more informed.
“I think what this is like for the team is getting a second opinion,” Gordon said on Friday at Pocono Raceway. “I think every driver out there sometimes would like to have a second opinion of their set-up or their car.
“To me, if I’m saying the same things that Dale is saying, if you are seeing the same results in qualifying, let’s say, then there are obviously some things that need to be worked on besides the driver behind the wheel.”
The four-time champion is filling in for Earnhardt for the second week in a row, having run 13th last week at Indianapolis. As Earnhardt recovers from concussion-like symptoms that have caused him to miss the last two races (with Alex Bowman subbing July 16 at New Hampshire), Gordon will compete in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Tricky Triangle.
Gordon is formally committed only through that race but says he’s prepared to do whatever is necessary for the Hendrick organization, which fielded cars for Gordon in 797 consecutive races before he exited the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last year.
Earnhardt’s status is uncertain, but the series’ most popular driver won’t get back in his car until he receives medical clearance to do so.
“We want to just keep going with how he is feeling,” Gordon said. “The doctors are evaluating. I’m not speculating anything at this time. I wouldn’t be here in Pocono if I wasn’t committed to be there for Hendrick Motorsports and this team in any way that they need me. I think there is a balance between trying to make this transition.
“First of all you want Dale to have the comfort of knowing that somebody is there for him. He doesn’t have to worry about that aspect of it through this process. Just get well at the pace that is the right pace to do it. So, nobody is putting any pressure or time frame on that. He may be putting that on himself more than anybody else.”
There are other considerations, too.
“There is the side of who is the best person to be in the car to get the most points,” Gordon said. “And then there is the sponsorship side of it as well. So far, from what (team owner) Rick (Hendrick) is telling me, that seems to be me. That is why I was at Indy and that is why I’m here.”
Keselowski OK After Crash At Watkins Glen
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Testing his car on new pavement at Watkins Glen International, Brad Keselowski crashed hard into the tire barrier at the outer edge of a runoff area in turn 1 at the 2.45-mile road course.
The culprit was an improperly installed brake line. Keselowski entered the corner with no stopping power, was unable to turn his No. 2 Ford and hit the tires at 81 mph, according to the telemetry on the car.
Fortunately, Keselowski was unhurt, and NASCAR’s safety enhancements over the past 15 years certainly had a hand in protecting him. Nevertheless, Keselowski considers road courses the most treacherous venues the series visits because of some of the sharp angles involved.
“In general, I’m not comfortable with tracks that have run offs that lead to very harsh angles,” Keselowski said. “Road courses remain the most dangerous tracks in motorsports for good reason because of that, but we know that going in.
“Some place has to be the safest, and some place has to be the most dangerous. It’s funny because a lot of times we end up talking about Daytona and Talladega and they don’t ever worry me as much as road courses do, I can promise you that.”
Watkins Glen has made significant safety improvements over the past decade, and the recent repaving of the racing surface is the latest project in a long list of capital improvements at the track.
Crew Chief Change At RCR Brings Quick Results
Crew chief Danny Stockman doesn’t have any difficulty finding motivation to elevate the performance at Richard Childress Racing.
“RCR as a whole—we don’t like to suck,” said Stockman, who has replaced Justin Alexander as crew chief on Paul Menard’s No. 27 Chevrolet, effective this week. “We have all the tools to do this right. We’ve got some new stuff that we have been working on as a company and everything–it’s never-ending.
“We’ve got to stay ahead of that curve. I feel like right now, like I said, I’m new and I’m scanning through the pictures after practice and walking through the garage here (at Pocono), eyeballs wide open, looking at everybody’s equipment. We have all the stuff. Our stuff is there. It’s competitive.”
Opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice did nothing to change Stockman’s opinion. Menard, who hasn’t had a top-five finish in 20 starts this season, topped the speed chart at 177.438 mph.
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