Chat Transcript: Jeff Gordon
August 8, 2001
1:59 PM EDT (1759 GMT)
[Nascar_Host1] Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Jeff Gordon!
[Jeff_Gordon] Welcome to everyone online! I am glad you could visit us. We had a great week and we are still very excited about the big win at the Brickyard, and we are looking forward to the rest of the season.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [sny man] Jeff, what do you think about the winner of the Brickyard 400 the last three years going on to win the Championship?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think that it is probably more coincidental than anything else. Teams that have won at the Brickyard are strong teams and at this point in the season, the teams that do well there seem to have everything in order to have a strong season. It gives them the opportunity to go out and win the Championship.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [J24GChevy] Hey Jeff, congratulations on your third Brickyard 400 win! I know you've had a lot of success at the 'Glen throughout your career. How do you think you will do this weekend? Do you think you have a good enough car to win?
[Jeff_Gordon] Thank you. We are certainly looking forward to going there. It is one of my favorite tracks. The competition has gotten even stiffer since the last time we were there, so we will just have to wait and see.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [pineforest24fan] In the Indy race, you radioed the car was all wrong in the beginning of the race. How difficult is it to stay focused when the car is not handling well?
[Jeff_Gordon] Well, it is difficult to stay focused, but you have to drive extremely hard. You can't allow yourself to get too focused on what changes the car needs. You need to stay focused on driving the car as best as you can. You have to try to get to that next pit stop and just make some adjustments.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl8] Which driver has the greatest chance to come up from behind and snatch that points lead away from you? Are you worried that might happen?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think there is so much racing left in the season that anything is possible. The thing I am most excited about is how our team has performed. If we have the least amount of trouble, we have a good shot. Between the #88, #28, and the #20, those guys have the best shot. If Dodges go on a tear here, Sterling Marlin has a shot at it also.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Go24Flames] A belated happy 30th! What did you do to celebrate your birthday, besides winning the race and playing new video games for hours?
[Jeff_Gordon] I haven't had a chance to play games since I have been home! It has been a crazy week. A win like that is so big that you are doing a lot of media interviews. Brooke and I have had a chance to reflect on the weekend many times, and yesterday I was able to spend time with my team and we celebrated together with lunch. It has been business as usual, really.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [raceykasey] Hi Jeff, what do you think about the road course experts hired for just the road courses?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think it is great. I think that it makes it extremely competitive. I think that as long as those guys recognize that there is a Championship battle going on, I am fine with it. As for us Cup guys, if we finish ahead of them, that shows a lot about our abilities also.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JG2001NWCchamp] Jeff, I saw your segment on Jay Leno and it was so funny. What was it like working with Leno, and did you shoot it before or after the race?
[Jeff_Gordon] We actually shot that all on Saturday after qualifying. It was a blast. We had, and will for a good part of the season, a Tonight Show with Jay Leno decal on the car. Jay is a neat guy to work with. He is real down to earth and a hilarious person. We are glad to make some people laugh and show the humorous side of this sport also.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Luv24] I have heard you say before that you try not to let the "boos" bother you. How special was it to hear all the "cheers!" Sunday?
[Jeff_Gordon] That is one of the greatest things about going to Indy, especially when you win. When you get those reactions during the introductions and during the race, it is just a great feeling. It is something that I really only get in California or Indiana, and I certainly enjoy it. It is just great.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [hey] Jeff, congratulations on winning at Indy. What do you think of the road course drivers only racing the two races a year. Do you think it's fair to the Winston Cup regulars?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think it is fun. You have to recognize that the teams hiring them either want to have a good points day or get some good exposure for their sponsors. They hire these guys to hopefully put their car in Victory Lane or to get a good finish. As long as they respect the points Championship going on out there, I have no problem with it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [neesee3] Congratulations on the Brickyard win! I read an article about your new hobby of scuba diving. Where do you like to dive? With your busy schedule, how often do you get to pursue it?
[Jeff_Gordon] When Brooke and I take a vacation to the Bahamas or Caribbean, we certainly take all the gear, but I only go like 5-6 times a year. I just really enjoy it. Every chance I get, I do it. It is very relaxing to me. It is just a whole other world down there. I have taken a lot of pictures down there and it is a neat experience for me.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [parkfan1] Jeff, a couple of years ago, Petty's win record seemed untouchable, however, it appears as though you have a shot. Is that a goal for you?
[Jeff_Gordon] It really isn't because I don't think it is touchable. 200 victories is just out of control! If you look at what we would have to do, we would have to win like 10-12 races for the next 15 years. I love statistics when it is all said and done, but when I am out there, I am just racing for the win or the Championship. I don't think about the statistics or records until the year is over, the race is over, or my career is over.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [8jr8fan] What do you think about the new NASCAR rule for the Dodges?
[Jeff_Gordon] You know, I have mixed emotions about it. If the wind tunnel numbers show that they need it, then I am happy for them that they got it. Only NASCAR really knows what all 4 makes have the wind tunnel. When all of us are back in the pack, all of us struggle back in traffic. I don't think you could change any nose and compensate for the aero-push. Most of the time we qualify good and that helps us get in cleaner air. Every time the Dodges have been starting up front, they have finished up front, so they just need to work on that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [MichelleAnn] Jeff, did you enjoy being on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" and was the hot seat as scary as everyone says?
[Jeff_Gordon] The hot seat is not as scary as being in the fastest finger seat! It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity for the Jeff Gordon Foundation. We were able to raise a lot of money for the charity. We got to meet Regis Philbin and a lot of other athletes. It was great and I hope we get a chance to do that again.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [raceykasey] Congratulations, Jeff. What do you think about a "cooling off period" after each race before reporters can do interviews?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think a unique thing about our sport is the amount of accessibility the media and fans have. We are all human and we make mistakes, but we should have enough sense about us as adults that we can control our thoughts and emotions when the race is over. I think there are times when the media needs to respect our time, especially like during practice or during the middle of the race. I think there are limits.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [ignut] Congratulations on an exciting win on Sunday! I heard Ed Guzzo is returning to Hendrick Motorsports. Will he be working for your team or one of your teammates?
[Jeff_Gordon] I have also heard that he is coming back. I believe he is with the #25 car, not the #24. I think he will be a great addition for them and he has a lot of great qualities.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [hey] What is the hardest aspect of a Winston Cup race?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think there are so many aspects of a race that are challenging and it changes every weekend, but the competition is certainly one. You have to have your car perfect and you have to have everything go your way to pull into Victory Lane. There is a new challenge every weekend.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [wardfan22] What are your thoughts on Bill Simpson's resignation?
[Jeff_Gordon] I hate to see it. I think Bill has brought so much to our sport and to motorsports in general. I think that he really cares about safety, and that is what the biggest shame is. He is very passionate about it and now he isn't there to give us his knowledge and experience. Hopefully he will be back.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [raceykasey] Congratulations, Jeff! What do you think of the new qualifying format this year?
[Jeff_Gordon] It has changed so many times, I am not sure which one to comment on! One lap, two laps, etc. I agree with shortening up the weekends because we added races to the schedule. It has been nice for the teams to have a Saturday night off after Happy Hour. I think that is a big plus. I think they are going to go back to 2 laps for qualifying. I probably wont use both, but at least we will have the opportunity to.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl8] Jeff, besides driving, what do you think is your greatest contribution to the #24 team?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think that I have had to grow up and mature quite a bit over the last few years. Ray taught me a lot about being a driver and I have a lot to offer to the team because I have experienced a lot of things -- wins, loses, and Championships. I can offer confidence to the team and just keep the morale of the team always on the "up" and go out there and focus on our jobs. To me, what makes a great racecar driver is someone that is able to be smart about the decisions being made on and off the racetrack, and not just the sheer bravery of it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RustyandRyanfan] What do you think about the rookies this year, aside from Kevin Harvick of course. And what about Ryan Newman next year?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think Ryan has shown a lot of potential. I think Penske has given him some great equipment. He has shown this year what he is capable of. I think that besides Kevin, Kurt Busch has shown some signs of being extremely strong and he is only 23 years old, and he has a good birthday by the way (we share the same day)! Guys like Casey Atwood are very young, and I remember that age, and we had a big learning curve. The more they get the experience, the sooner they will get to Victory Lane.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [OneEleven] As a driver, what do you think is the best way to deal with on the track hostility between two drivers? Not to back down, back down and talk after the race... what do you think?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think certainly that after the race is over is good. Sometimes I may even wait a week until the next event. I think you should confront another driver with your displeasures. It doesn't need to turn into a fight, but it should be one-on-one with the drivers only -- no crew chiefs, no team members, and no media. There is a time and place to have a calm conversation and move on. You have to let it roll off your back, go back to racing, and not dwell on it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Wdpkr] You are doing well in your Cup car. Great! Do you feel giving up your Busch Pepsi ride allowed greater focus on improving your Cup performances?
[Jeff_Gordon] I do. I think that is one of the reasons why we backed that program off. A lot of things changed when Ray started his team with the Dodge program because Brooke, Ray and myself were partners in that Busch deal. Plans changed, but I want to focus all my attention on Winston Cup. I didn't feel the Busch Series was really helping me to win Winston Cup events.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Abear] How do you feel about the "out of bounds" at Daytona and Talladega, since you are one of the best at aggression on the low side?
[Jeff_Gordon] I do miss the opportunity to make some of those great passes, but I understand that they want to keep some consistency out there, and if they didn't have that, there would be a lot of wrecks. It does make it safer and I am proud of NASCAR that they set a precedent at the last event. I don't know if it was fair to Tony, but at the same time there isn't a single driver out there that doesn't know what he has to do if he does go below the line. This is going to be good.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [buck55] Jeff, I met Jerry Nadeau about 5 weeks ago. He said that you are sharing thoughts about your setups. Has this helped you?
[Jeff_Gordon] Oh yeah. I think that Jerry and I get along very well and our teams share a lot of information. There have been a lot of times that they have helped us tremendously, and I hope we have done the same for them. They have had some bad luck and they have had some cars that could have won a lot this year. They just have to keep working hard because everyone at Hendrick, including Terry, has great equipment. We just need the fortunes and chemistry to go our way. We all have great packages.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jmsmith2434] If the NASCAR schedule was shortened, would you prefer to have the season end sooner and have a longer offseason, or would you rather have more weekends off during the season?
[Jeff_Gordon] Both! Haha I think it is important to have a few weekends off during the year to get a mini-vacation in during the season. If we shorten it up a lot, I would rather have more time in the offseason, but the offseason doesn't bother me so much. It is really the fact that it comes in December. In December you have Christmas parties, photo shoots with sponsors, and then Christmas. We get to be with the family, but a lot of vacationing doesn't happen. Then we start testing in January. I would get more time off during the season with a mini-vacation, so maybe I would prefer that.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [kslnc28] How do you feel about possibly moving Victory Lane a little closer to the fans so they can enjoy the post-race activities?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think that is a great idea. I hope some of these racetracks take that into account. I think that would be wonderful.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Discjockey24] Jeff, I was listening to you on the scanner in Indy, and just before your last pit stop, you mentioned that you didn't have the car to win but maybe finish in the top-5. Why did you feel that way and was there any doubt that you would lose the lead at anytime after the restart?
[Jeff_Gordon] I think what was said was that Robbie and I were talking about tires or just a gas-and-go. I felt like we needed some tires. I didn't think we could hold anybody off if we didn't take tires. I asked him how much fuel, and he said about 4-5 seconds, so collectively we said 2 tires. That is what is great about our team right now is the communication. That lead to the 2-tire stop, and we got out behind Sterling, and that is why we had a great restart. I just didn't think we could win without tires.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [the landlord] What kind of remote control truck did your crew get you for your birthday?
[Jeff_Gordon] I don't know the brand name of it, but it is like a nitro gas-powered engine. It is 4-wheel drive and it is very cool! I have a road car and this dirt truck now.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [fanofjeff] Hi Jeff, are you going to practice burnouts?
[Jeff_Gordon] HAHA I need to, don't I! I did one at The Winston in Charlotte and it worked out great. I wasn't going to do one at Indy, but I thought it would be cool to do it at the bricks. When I released the clutch, I don't know if the wheels had a problem, but I couldn't get them to spin. I am going to work on that next time! I hope I get another opportunity at it.
[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [foath74] Jeff, I was wondering what kind of music you like to listen to?
[Jeff_Gordon] I like all kinds of music. There is some country music I like, and some oldies I enjoy. Most of the time it is just pop music, whatever is on the radio, top-40 type of music.
[Nascar_Host1] That's all the time Jeff has for us this morning. Thanks Jeff! What are your final thoughts?
[Jeff_Gordon] I appreciate all the great questions and all the folks that are out there rooting for us. I hope we can keep up the great work and win some more races, and maybe even win a Championship.
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