Jeff Gordon Wants Respect

Posted by Jeremy Dunn Sep 23, 2006

Last weekend at New Hampshire, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers engaged in a couple of hard nosed battles throughout the 300-lap event.

And afterwards, Gordon's feathers were ruffled. You see, here before us is a conflict of interest. Gordon is one of the ten Nextel Cup championship contenders, and Vickers is still searching for that long awaited first win.

Early in the Sylvania 300, Vickers had the faster car and was forced to work his way around Gordon. Gordon felt as if Vickers may have worked him too hard.

And then during the closing laps, Vickers was riding along in second place when Gordon closed in. Instead of being the 'good little teammate', Vickers did was he's being paid to do. It's called RACING!

Vickers raced Gordon, and made him work for 2nd place. Gordon was the faster car, so he eventually passed him, but he was none to pleased with his teammate as he dislayed in an interview on Friday.

"He's my teammate, but he's not my teammate because he's moving on next year...It did cost us time...Right now he's in a tough position. He's moving on to a new team. He hasn't been able to win races like other guys at Hendrick Motorsports. He wants it bad and he's driving hard and I think it was just a little lapse in judgment."

To a degree I understand Gordon's frustration, but to call out Vickers five days later...that seems a little unfair.

Vickers is moving on to Red Bull Racing in 2007, so I guess he's expendible, but I applaud the kid for standing his ground, and racing like a man.

Gordon and Tony Stewart are true champions and well-respected, and the two most accomplished drivers of our time, but I just don't think they've earned the right to determine how everyone should race them. This isn't a family trip down I-95 South, not everyone is going to yield to a faster car.

This is NASCAR, not the series of Mark Martin clones.

My opinion of the day. Have a good race weekend.

email the author: autoracing@suite101.com