Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

Gordon gives COT bad grade

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Drivers offered a candid assessment of NASCAR's car of tomorrow, and it's not all that flattering. "There is just no way for me to give that car a good grade," Jeff Gordon said. "The (old car) does things that you want a race car to do. The COT doesn't do any of those things. And that's why you hear a lot of us talk about it. So, once we stop comparing it to this current car, I think we'll actually start to see some real progress and have some fun with it." Generally, teams have complained that it is hard to get the new car's handling adjusted so that it turns well in corners. It remains to be seen if that characteristic has more to do with the fact that it has been used mostly so far on the shorter tracks with tighter turns. Teams have also said the car, which is taller and wider, has a higher center of gravity and that has caused issues with finding the right balance.

Charlotte Observer

Jeff Gordon, AP Jeff Gordon, AP
November 9, 2007  07:14 AM ET

Well heck, I get to de-virginize this...

Not so sure I care what Jeffie thinks, but it is the new car that they have to drive. So what if it makes it harder to tune the suspension. It makes it hard for EVERYONE. Not that I like the new car, but,,,,,,Well we are stuck with what we are given. It just means that multicar teams, have the chance to do more testing,a nd get the bugs out sooner, and better.

November 9, 2007  07:37 AM ET

if i made the money gordon made i would drive a conastoga wagon and be happy about it...."yeah the corona extra beer wagon was a little tight when we started today but the crew loosened it up there about mid race and we started coming to the front" now making the money gordon does why does he complain? what does he have to complain about? good god just drive the car make your zillions of dollars and SHUT UP!!!!!
the dr.

November 9, 2007  07:41 AM ET

I don't know about having fun with it. As a fan, I don't have that much fun watching it.

But I guess we're stuck with it for the forseeable future. As much as I'd like to see it go away, for NASCAR to do an about-face and say they're scrapping the COT would be tremendously unfair to the smaller teams that poured a lot of capital into developing their COT programs.

Apart from that, what I'd like to see happen is a return to the old-style car. I would, however, keep some of the COT features like moving the driver more to the center of the car, but the actual design of the car itself should be left to (wait for it...) the car manufacturers themselves. So what if a Fusion is shaped differently than an Impala? I understand that's how it works in the real world. Let the team shops still build the car's chassis, with measurements provided by the manufacturers, but the actual body panels come from the manufacturers themselves, sheet metal versions of the panels used on production cars.. Maybe then the manufacturer's competition would mean something. And NASCAR wouldn't need to change its name to NA__AR (taking the stock car out of it).

November 9, 2007  07:55 AM ET

Here comes the Gordon haters. He isnt the only one that dislikes the COT-but man HMS has ruled with this format. cookie cutter crap

November 9, 2007  07:57 AM ET

The shame of it is that JG is the new face of NASCAR, and he has clout. That and short everything...

November 9, 2007  07:59 AM ET

I would hate to see how far Jeff would be ahead in points IF he liked the COT??

November 9, 2007  08:54 AM ET

Top of the morning - You all are correct in one way or another BUT
All the bitc*ing = all the hype = isn't going to change a thing, as
long as Pissy France is running the show. 78% of the drivers-not
just Gordon do not like the car.Oh well drive it anyway -Learn
what makes it tick and go from there.
Just the way I see it.
SLY

November 9, 2007  09:18 AM ET

Gordon is just saying what many drivers are saying and what fans think

November 9, 2007  09:38 AM ET

Good points, from all of you......so the drivers should just accept it, do their best and keep making their big moola piles every week.....
One thing they seem to forget is that he COT is more safe for drivers. Just look back at all the amazing crashes in COT this year. Everyone walked away, whether the entire car was on fire or totally smashed up.
But as a fan, it does make the race a bit less exciting and we fans just have to get used to that.

November 9, 2007  09:40 AM ET

I wish they would go with the body style of the manufacturer. Have them run cars like you would see (on the outside) on the road. This is Stock Car racing. You shouldnt need 50 million to run a race team for the year.

November 9, 2007  09:55 AM ET

I can't believe I am going to say this, but I actually applaud Gordon... and the rest of drivers.... for speaking out about the car. They need to generate feedback about the car in order for NASCAR to change things. It takes numerous failures in order to get the right product, so every bit of criticism the car gets should make it that much better in the future. It may not be 2008, but 2009 should provide for some better racing.

November 9, 2007  10:05 AM ET

Well the COT seems to be working for you Jeff.......

November 9, 2007  10:08 AM ET

Yeah, unfortunately it ain't going away. Makes driver ability more prevelent. I hope in the offseason they do make some things better, as most of the drivers have wanted. Was/is fun bashing Gordon, but he is just saying the same as the numbers. As I said before, he is one of the faces of NASCAR. And I hate to say it, but the respected and knowledgeable driver...URGH....

November 9, 2007  10:19 AM ET

Painful wasnt it stokcarfan.........

November 9, 2007  11:11 AM ET

Imagine what the guys who aren't going to win the championship think of the car.

November 9, 2007  11:13 AM ET

I hopefully see 2-3 years in the furture that we will see racing with the COT that we did in the other cars.. They will figure it out sooner or later... Just hope the NASCAR fans stick it out for that long.

November 9, 2007  11:13 AM ET

I may have to go back to watching the ARCA series. At least some knowledge, and finagling can be done, and the drivers have personality. NASCAR big show is losing it's personality.

November 9, 2007  11:37 AM ET

The rules are the same for everyone (supposedly). Quit whining and get the job done!!!!

November 9, 2007  11:37 AM ET

You really think NASCAR is losing fans? Personally I think they are about as peaked as they can get. Look at all the F1 and Indy guys attempting to get Cup rides. They are doing something right cause the sponsors are battling in court to get their logos on the cars (AT&T).

 
November 9, 2007  11:41 AM ET

Say Heis- Don't like Gordan???

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