Seems like old times for Gordon, Hendrick team
SCENEDAILY - 4:19PM ET THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT
Print This Article RSS Feed
DOUG PENSINGER / GETTY IMAGESIs Jeff Gordon experiencing a sense of déjà vu?
The Hendrick Motorsports driver heads into this weekend's Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International leading the points and with four wins to his credit. That's a season eerily similar to the one he put together in 2001 - when he went on to win one of his four NASCAR Cup titles.
Of course, this year his massive points lead will evaporate when the Chase For The Nextel Cup begins. Once the 12-driver field is set for NASCAR's 10-race, title-determining segment of the season, the points are reset for those drivers. They are equal, except for a 10-point bonus for each win during the season. With that, Gordon is on track to start the Chase tied with Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, who also has four wins this season.
Gordon is clearly in the Chase this season. While several drivers are still battling closely for a spot in the field, Gordon needs only to start the next five races to be locked into the field. If he finishes 12th or better at Watkins Glen, he will become the first driver locked into the championship segment this season.
Still, right now Gordon is intent on the race at hand. With five events to go before the Chase field is set, he has five more chances to add to his bonus points. Watkins Glen International, though, doesn't look like his best chance to do that.
While Gordon had four wins and six top-five finishes in his first nine starts at the track, he has not won there since 2001. He has finished no better than 13th in the last five races there.
"We used to have some great success at the Glen," Gordon said. "We got a little behind these past few years, but the two-day test that we had last week at Road Atlanta should really help us get back to the old advantages we used to have here," he said.
Returning to form on the road course is important to Gordon and his Hendrick team, as is keeping up the pace they've set. Gordon has a 366-point lead in the Cup standings heading into Sunday's race.
"We are having a great season, and we need to keep this momentum up," Gordon said. "Your whole momentum can shift right at the beginning of the Chase. We just need to continue to bring good race cars and finish consistently in order to carry over that momentum to the last 10 races."
SCENEDAILY - 4:19PM ET THURSDAY AUGUST 9, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT
Print This Article RSS Feed
DOUG PENSINGER / GETTY IMAGESIs Jeff Gordon experiencing a sense of déjà vu?
The Hendrick Motorsports driver heads into this weekend's Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International leading the points and with four wins to his credit. That's a season eerily similar to the one he put together in 2001 - when he went on to win one of his four NASCAR Cup titles.
Of course, this year his massive points lead will evaporate when the Chase For The Nextel Cup begins. Once the 12-driver field is set for NASCAR's 10-race, title-determining segment of the season, the points are reset for those drivers. They are equal, except for a 10-point bonus for each win during the season. With that, Gordon is on track to start the Chase tied with Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, who also has four wins this season.
Gordon is clearly in the Chase this season. While several drivers are still battling closely for a spot in the field, Gordon needs only to start the next five races to be locked into the field. If he finishes 12th or better at Watkins Glen, he will become the first driver locked into the championship segment this season.
Still, right now Gordon is intent on the race at hand. With five events to go before the Chase field is set, he has five more chances to add to his bonus points. Watkins Glen International, though, doesn't look like his best chance to do that.
While Gordon had four wins and six top-five finishes in his first nine starts at the track, he has not won there since 2001. He has finished no better than 13th in the last five races there.
"We used to have some great success at the Glen," Gordon said. "We got a little behind these past few years, but the two-day test that we had last week at Road Atlanta should really help us get back to the old advantages we used to have here," he said.
Returning to form on the road course is important to Gordon and his Hendrick team, as is keeping up the pace they've set. Gordon has a 366-point lead in the Cup standings heading into Sunday's race.
"We are having a great season, and we need to keep this momentum up," Gordon said. "Your whole momentum can shift right at the beginning of the Chase. We just need to continue to bring good race cars and finish consistently in order to carry over that momentum to the last 10 races."
