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Gordon apologizes for radio waves
(High Point Enterprise (NC) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 9--DARLINGTON -- Jeff Gordon apologized to those with sensitive ears this week.
Gordon called himself on the carpet for inappropriate language during two-way radio communications with his crew chief Steve Letarte.
"The reason for them is pretty simple," Gordon said of his off-color complaints. "It is because we've run like crap. If we are running up front, you won't hear a word out of me. If we are running terrible, then you are going to hear. It just goes back to frustration."
The frustration comes from his Hendrick Mtorsports team failing to get its version of NASCAR's new generation car to handle as well as it did last year.
Gordon is winless this season. His best finish was a second at Martinsville, where he always runs well, but his car has been hit-and-miss on bigger tracks. The worst outing came at Texas where Gordon's car was so bad that it was among the slowest before he crashed.
"We've been so outside the box with what we are trying to do to make the car have downforce, it drives really bad," Gordon said. "The crazy thing is the worse it drives, the faster it goes.
"I have apologized to Steve because when I get out there I can't help it. I get frustrated. You can call me a whiner or whatever."
One place Gordon is not expectedto complain is this weekend at Darlington Raceway. In 27 Darlington starts, he owns seven wins, has led 1,496 laps (both the most among active drivers), and finished in the top five 15 times.
Gordon's charmed life at the 1.366mile track reached its peak last season when he won in a car that overheated and sprayed steam over the last 100 miles.
"The temperature skyrocketed and I thought we were done," Gordon said. "Steve made a great call not to pit on a late caution and that allowedme to get clean air into the car. We were fortunate to pull into Victory Lane with steam pouring out the overflow vent."
That was the first race for the new generation car on a track longer than a mile. This time, new pavement provides more traction on the narrow track that opened in 1950.
"The Darlington that we all love is still there," Gordon said. "The track is smooth and super fast. The repaving took out all the bumps. But it is still the same old Darlington."
gsmith@hpe.com|888-3519
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Copyright (c) 2008, High Point Enterprise, N.C.
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