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Gordon win greeted by bottles
By Louis Brewster
Staff Writer
FONTANA -- Don't expect Jeff Gordon to follow Helio Castroneves's tradition of climbing fences after a victory. Not after California Speedway on Sunday and Talladega (Ala.) the previous week.
While taking the victory lap after the NASCAR Nextel Cup Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, a plastic beer bottle was hurled from the stands that hit Gordon's Chevrolet. Another bottle landed in front of the car before his celebratory burnout in the grass.
After a controversial victory at Talladega last week, fans littered the track with beer cans and other trash.
"Maybe it's a tradition when I win," said Gordon, who has been booed throughout his 11-year NASCAR Cup career. "I don't care if they throw stuff after the race, but if it's during a race, then we have a serious issue.
"Hopefully, the tracks can take action."
Speedway president Bill Miller said: "Right now, we think it's an isolated incident."
Hot time: With temperatures more than 95 degrees, and around 140 on the track, heat was a concern. Miller said the care center and first aid stations treated nearly 1,000 people, most for heat-related problems.
Most of the drivers felt the heat after the 3-hour race, although Gordon said he wasn't hot.
"I don't know why, other than I've been drinking a lot of water," Gordon said. "This new carbon seat is great. We've worked on how to vent it and how to put the air into it. I have an air conditioner but I didn't even run the thing until the last 100 laps."
Big finish: Terry Labonte finished a season-best seventh, his fourth top-10 effort in eight Cup races at Fontana.
His best previous finish this season was 17th, twice.
"That's huge for (us)," Labonte said. "We've struggled and have been looking for a breakthrough and I believe we got it today."
Gordon win greeted by bottles
By Louis Brewster
Staff Writer
FONTANA -- Don't expect Jeff Gordon to follow Helio Castroneves's tradition of climbing fences after a victory. Not after California Speedway on Sunday and Talladega (Ala.) the previous week.
While taking the victory lap after the NASCAR Nextel Cup Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, a plastic beer bottle was hurled from the stands that hit Gordon's Chevrolet. Another bottle landed in front of the car before his celebratory burnout in the grass.
After a controversial victory at Talladega last week, fans littered the track with beer cans and other trash.
"Maybe it's a tradition when I win," said Gordon, who has been booed throughout his 11-year NASCAR Cup career. "I don't care if they throw stuff after the race, but if it's during a race, then we have a serious issue.
"Hopefully, the tracks can take action."
Speedway president Bill Miller said: "Right now, we think it's an isolated incident."
Hot time: With temperatures more than 95 degrees, and around 140 on the track, heat was a concern. Miller said the care center and first aid stations treated nearly 1,000 people, most for heat-related problems.
Most of the drivers felt the heat after the 3-hour race, although Gordon said he wasn't hot.
"I don't know why, other than I've been drinking a lot of water," Gordon said. "This new carbon seat is great. We've worked on how to vent it and how to put the air into it. I have an air conditioner but I didn't even run the thing until the last 100 laps."
Big finish: Terry Labonte finished a season-best seventh, his fourth top-10 effort in eight Cup races at Fontana.
His best previous finish this season was 17th, twice.
"That's huge for (us)," Labonte said. "We've struggled and have been looking for a breakthrough and I believe we got it today."
Drink on.
