Chat Transcript: Bobby Labonte
August 8, 2001
2:37 PM EDT (1837 GMT)
[Nascar_Host1] Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Bobby Labonte!
[Bobby_Labonte] Thanks to everybody for getting online today and it should be good because it has been a good couple of weeks.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DaleLivesForever] Bobby, as the reigning Winston Cup Champion, how much of a relief was it to throw the monkey off of your back by winning at Pocono?
[Bobby_Labonte] Quite a relief. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to go to Atlanta without winning a race, but it came at what is becoming one of my favorite tracks.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni18] Hi, Bobby. You looked like you were going to have a strong finish at Indy before you ran out of fuel. Do you have momentum on your side after the win at Pocono and the good run yesterday before running out of fuel?
[Bobby_Labonte] Yes, I think so. I think that prior to losing track position yesterday (because we needed more tires), we felt pretty good about it. I hope that the momentum will stay with us going to Watkins Glen.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [speedqueen17] Hi, Bobby. Congratulations on your Winston Cup success. You always seem to lay low through much of a race and then somehow be up front at the end. Is that the plan or does your car just get better?
[Bobby_Labonte] It must just get better! We don't plan it that way, it just happens that way sometimes. We usually try to get it perfect for the end of the race while the race is going on. We make adjustments to be there at the end.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni18] Hi, Bobby. What is with the situation with the Pontiacs? There are only six of you? Do you think that there will be more Pontiacs in the near future or is Pontiac going to leave Winston Cup?
[Bobby_Labonte] I know that we are not leaving Pontiac and they are not leaving the sport. I think they are going to try and get more teams in the future.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [rickyjogator] Bobby, how hard was it to pass Junior last week with the last few laps left?
[Bobby_Labonte] It was pretty hard. My car was a lot better at that point in time, but Junior didn't roll over. He made me earn every bit of it!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [GO24] Hi Bobby, do you think it's strange that the winner of the Brickyard has gone on to win the Championship the last three years?
[Bobby_Labonte] After Jeff Gordon won yesterday and pulled away in points, I am beginning to think that is a pretty good trend! That is ironic, but I am pretty glad it happened last year.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni18] Hi, Bobby. What do you think about the rule change that the Dodges received?
[Bobby_Labonte] I think that it is strange that a decision was made to give them extra downforce and less drag when they were already pretty competitive in the wind tunnel. I know that NASCAR understands the importance of the results of the wind tunnel.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jk418] Bobby, congratulations on the Pocono win and the IROC Championship! It seems that the Pontiacs, in general, have struggled this season, especially with qualifying. In light of the recent concessions given to Dodge, what one thing do you think would most help the Pontiacs?
[Bobby_Labonte] We have a higher drag number than the other makes of cars and if we were too say pull our noses out two inches, we could lose some drag and not lose downforce. So maybe Christmas will come early for us, too.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [montecarlo24] Bobby, since Tony won at Sears Point, how much have your teams shared info about road courses?
[Bobby_Labonte] We share everything at all tracks and we tested the other day in Virginia, and Tony was faster than I was there. He has a good feel for road courses. We tested at VIR. They run club racing up there on the weekends. It is a pretty nice place.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DonRas] Bobby, after having a tremendous season last year and winning the Championship, how hard is it this year to be plagued by bad luck and still keep your spirits up and keep on trying every week?
[Bobby_Labonte] Sometimes it is frustrating because I believe that last year's history doesn't matter. You are only as good as you were last week. We have a good race team and we feel like we have hope and chance every week, so it is not as hard as it could be.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl 8] Do you have any more commercials coming out with Tony?
[Bobby_Labonte] A Coke commercial just came out with all the drivers, and Tony was in that. We don't have anything else scheduled right now.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [bharrison9] Bobby, what kind of influence does Joe Gibbs have on you off the track?
[Bobby_Labonte] I think his organizational skills and people skills off the track, and his ability to always please people with a smile is nice to see, and that has helped me out just being around him.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl 8] What is the hardest aspect of a Winston Cup race?
[Bobby_Labonte] Monday, when you don't do good! Or Monday when you do perform good, because of all the interviews. Haha Sometimes just trying to figure out your racecar for the end of the race. There are a lot of them, but that is one of them.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [gobobby18go] I saw that your son Tyler raced the weekend of Pocono. How is that going and when will he race again?
[Bobby_Labonte] Well, that was the only race that he ran, but we are going to see about if he wants to maybe race again later on this year, if possible, in a quarter-midget.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [hotwheels] Do you think NASCAR is missing the old rivalries?
[Bobby_Labonte] Yes, I think so. A rivalry is good for the sport as long as it never gets too far out of hand. It doesn't need to be the same people every time.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [racingfan] If given all the parts and tools, could you, by yourself, build a working car engine?
[Bobby_Labonte] I could probably put all the pieces together, but I am not sure how well it would run, nor how long! I have taken them apart, but I haven't really built them.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [foath74] Bobby, I was wondering if you ever get a chance to try out any sim race games for the PC, and if so, do you think they can help from playing?
[Bobby_Labonte] I have done the NASCAR Heat since it started with Hasbro. There are a lot of things that are realistic with the game that an individual might see something that could help if they went to that facility and recognized it in person. The driving simulation is pretty realistic, too.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [NASCARFAN2007] What are your feelings on the hired guns for this week's road race at Watkins Glen?
[Bobby_Labonte] Well, I think it is OK with me. The guys that race the road courses are really great drivers and professional to the point that when you race them, you know you are racing people that are going to be competitive but not do anything abusive to their car or yours.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [labonteluver] What are your thoughts on Bill Simpson's resignation?
[Bobby_Labonte] I hate that Bill felt like he had to resign. He really didn't do anything wrong personally and has probably gotten a sour taste from everything that has gone on, and I hate that for him.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [pontiacrules] What's something in your motor home that would surprise most people?
[Bobby_Labonte] I am trying to think of something here... that is a good question! A small plasma TV, because most people would think I would have a big one! People that know me would think I would have the biggest one out there!
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Yo] Is there a side of Tony Stewart that you see as his teammate that we cannot see as spectators and fans?
[Bobby_Labonte] He has a very good feel for the racecar and always allows information to flow to me and our team, and he truly is dedicated to Joe Gibbs racing.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [live4racing] Are you or Terry going to attend the dedication of the new park in Corpus Christi that is going to have the Labonte brothers name associated to it?
[Bobby_Labonte] Yes, we are. We are both going to be there. It is the week before Kansas City. We are going there before we head to the race.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Crystal] Will you be running any more special paint schemes this year? The Jurassic Park scheme was great!
[Bobby_Labonte] We will be running a Coca-Cola car at Talladega. Tony and I are running this special scheme to help support the Toys-for-Tots charity, and Coke is the main sponsor. You will see the Coke Polar Bears on the cars.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Bandit18] Hi Bobby, how did you feel about the limited practice time at Indy this year compared to the previous years?
[Bobby_Labonte] It didn't make sense to me. I am not sure why we didn't go with last year's schedule. An hour of practice on Friday and having to be there all day and the qualifying starting at 10:30 and ending during the middle of the day didn't make it fair for all the competitors. Ricky Rudd would have won the pole.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [budfan] Bobby, other than driving what is your greatest contribution to the #18 team?
[Bobby_Labonte] Trying to be the best communicator and "just one of the guys" when it comes down to it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [gordon24] What advice can you give the new and upcoming "young guns" about handling adversity and tempers on as well as off the track?
[Bobby_Labonte] I would say that you shouldn't get frustrated if things don't go right in areas that you are used to them going right in, because things will change. Try to keep your composure and just don't let it bother you. Concentrate on what got you there.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jenhen#8jrfan] Hi, Bobby. Congratulations on winning the Pennsylvania 500! Is there anything special you do mentally or physically to prepare for a race?
[Bobby_Labonte] Physically, I just try to drink plenty of fluids during the week and I usually try to work out a couple times a week. Mentally, I just try to have an open mind about making changes on the car during the weekend because we are all shooting at a moving target.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [max20] Bobby, how would you feel about a "cooling off" period before doing interviews with the press?
[Bobby_Labonte] I would say that would be really good, but unfortunately if everybody had a chance to cool off, they would all leave anyway! Practicing quick, non-controversial answers works out well, too! Haha
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [WA] Bobby, now that you have your helicopter, have you been able to spend more time with the family?
[Bobby_Labonte] Yes, I have. It has worked out better than I ever dreamt it would. Again, that doesn't pay for itself with money, it pays for itself with time.
[Nascar_Host1] That's all the time Bobby has for us this evening. Thanks Bobby! What are your final thoughts?
[Bobby_Labonte] Thanks for tuning in. I appreciate the questions. Thanks for all the nice things that were said after we won Pocono about our race team. We hope to win more races before the season is over, so keep pulling for us!
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