Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speaks: And he's not very happy about this car-of-tomorrow
Dale Earnhardt Jr. criticizes NASCAR's new race car (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
By Mike Mulhern
mikemulhern.net
ATLANTA
Say what you will, or think what you might about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s head not being in the NASCAR game yet this season, and ask all the questions you want to about all those mistakes he's making – heck, a lot of people in the garage are scratching their heads right now – but Junior has a right this weekend to be a bit unnerved.
-- The tires Goodyear has here may not be nearly as good as predicted, particularly after the Vegas success.
-- And this car-of-tomorrow, more than a year into the deal, is still, well here's what Junior says about the thing: "This is a hell of an excuse for a race car. It is hard to drive. It makes everybody's job harder, even Goodyear's."
Drivers griping about tire grip? Gripe, gripe, gripe?
"I don't think it is unnecessary griping," Earnhardt says, "because the track surface was about the same about four or five years ago.
"When we came out of the box (this time), we felt like four or five years ago (here), or even three years ago, we had a better handle on the tire (at this track) and the track and how things were going.
"The cars drove better.
"Hell, everybody loved it…and everybody loved coming here.
"Just in a matter of a year or two, we seem to have confused ourselves."
Is it the car-of-tomorrow?
"100 percent," Earnhardt said.
"I don't know why we aren't as comfortable here as we used to be, but it is definitely a big difference than two or three years ago…and it's not because there is a difference in the track -- it was already worn out a couple years ago (and eating tires like a cheese grater).
"It is a big race track and really, really worn out, and slick, and it is hard to get power down and go fast.
"It is fun. I think all the drivers enjoy the challenge the track presents.
"But the tire --- I felt we had a better understanding and a better comfort level several years ago."
So what to expect in Sunday's 500?
Earnhardt says he agrees with fellow drivers who are complaining about this tire here: "I'll join 'em.
"I don't want to say too much though, because we ain't really run a race yet.
"But it is a handful, man, it is handful.
"I don't think everybody is going to be wrecking. It will be a bunch of guys trying not to wreck."
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What Junior says about the
What Junior says about the COT is what literally everyone else has been saying since the first test in December 2005 - the car is worthless as a racecar. The short nose, gapped airdam, top-heavy roofline, and wing do not make good racing; cutting downforce never makes good racing. The COT is worthless.
I agree -- NASCAR's move to
I agree -- NASCAR's move to cut downforce was flat wrong. More downforce means better racing, it's as simple as that. But NASCAR has a vested interest in good racing, of course, so why has the sanctioning body played like an ostrich with its head in the sand?
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Junior is just giving excuses
Junior is just giving excuses again for not running that good
The quality of racing today
The quality of racing today compared to any time in the past is up for debate. What is not debatable is the fact that race teams (which include the driver) find ways of getting the best out of what they have to work with. Some teams do a better job than others. When the Junior Nation found out that their boy was heading to HMS, the feeling was that he would, at last, have all the tools he needed for a championship. As we all know, Jimmie Johnson has won 3 in a row using the same tires, the same cars and the same equipment that is available to Junior. While the 48 team (and the 18 team and the 17 team and the 24 team and the 99 team, etc. etc. etc.) work to make the most of the situation, Junior is crying to all who will listen. He assumes that his word will force NASCAR into providing something he can drive. He is a sad little boy who makes too much money for doing far too little.
Jim
The drivers want to but
The drivers want to but racing back in the hands of the drivers > Now some want to bitch about it .Jr need to learn to drive better.
only reason this got press is
only reason this got press is Jr. said it. If all are fighting the same POS, then so what? Jr. has more issues than the COT, everyone has issues with the COT..yawn, gets old. like bitching about a track, drive it, get over it, adjust, go on.
I would like to know what
I would like to know what Dale SR would have had said about the COT. It would probably be very interesting to hear his comments on the car.
WHEN THE REST OF THE RACING
WHEN THE REST OF THE RACING COMMUNITY MAKES A COMMENT ABOUT THE COT, NOTHING IS NOTED. WHEN JR. MAKES A COMMENT,IT IS WHINING. HOW ABOUT A BIT OF INPUT FROM THE REST OF THE FIELD? DOES ANYONE LIKE THIS NEW CAR???? IS IT REALLY RACING OR JUST A SPECTACLE PRODUCED BY THE FRANCE FAMILY TO KEEP CORPORATE HAPPY// WE HAVE BEEN FANS OF THIS SPORT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND AS WE ALL KNOW THINGS CHANGE...BUT TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS SO VERY SAD. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN NASCAR WAS A LARGE PART OF OUR LIVES--GOING TO RACES--CAMPING OUT FOR A WEEK AT A TIME--NEVER MISSING A SUNDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT RACE...THEN IT BECAME ALL ABOUT THE SPONSORS AND NO LONGER ABOUT THE FANS---SUPPORTING OUR DRIVERS WITH ALL THE FLAGS AND T-SHIRTS,HATS -NO LONGER --LET CORPORATE TAKE CARE OF THEM...WE SHALL GO ENJOY OUR GRANDKIDS...
I understand why they went to
I understand why they went to this car but when the amount of quality teams not just field fillers struggle week after week with the setup of this POS it kind of goes back to the old "if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck more than likely it's a duck". Did Goodyear forget how to make good race tires, I doubt it, did the most highly qualified engineers and crew chiefs forget how to set cars up, I doubt it, did successful Championship winning drivers forget how to drive, I doubt it. The common denominator in this whole thing is this stupid boxy nonadjustable kit car, the drivers who win with it hate it they were just luckiest that particular day and woe be the driver who criticizes this crappy car Big Daddy Helton and his trainee Brian will land on them like a ton of bricks. This is a car designed for all the good reason and turned out to be a lemon happens all the time but most would be smart enough to change it or do some kind of modification, I guess another 40,000 empty seats at the tracks can be covered up by using clever camera angles and Fox gopher nonsense.
JR's darned if he does,
JR's darned if he does, darned if he don't.
He hasn't had a good start this season so anything he says negative about the COT is going to bring derision from some.
But he's only saying what so many have said for awhile...It's a crappy car.
I've always appreciated what seems to be JR's willingness to be open with the media...something his daddy was reluctant to do. But when you do speak and you get chided for speaking, I can see why it's better to just keep your mouth shut and just race.