Friday, September 13, 2013

Brian Vickers: 'We don't race public opinion.'


  

   Brian Vickers, who made it clear in an article on USAToday.com that he believes he did nothing
wrong on Saturday, reiterated his view again Friday after qualifying.

    Q: "How do you and your team move forward after this week?
    Vickers:
"I think it's really up to -- my perspective of the whole situation is I think that the team is going to move forward just fine. I  think how things have been handled are wrong. We acted in accordance to the rules. We played by the same standards that everyone else has played by since the day I entered the sport. We did nothing different than what I've done with other teams or what I've been asked to do with other teams in my past, or when I started my career with Hendrick. I feel fine. I think it's a shame how MWR has been made out to be the 'bad guy' in the situation. And then the other teams involved got away 'scott free.' I hate it for the employees. I hate it for everyone at MWR. There's a lot of great people at this company and I said that in my article -- the column that I wrote (for USA Today). I stand by these guys. They're a great group of guys. If someone  doesn't like the results -- that's fine. They're entitled to their opinion. But, we don't race opinion -- we race the rule book. And to my knowledge, there's no rule in the rule book that said we couldn't pit for the reason we're choosing. We don't race public opinion. If public opinion wants the rules changed -- then they should change the rules and we'll race by those rules. Until then, I'll say it again and I said it in the column, I'm proud to be a part of this team. I'm proud of how hard they work. I'm proud of their efforts and the way they work and I stand by that. I'm proud of our partners for sticking with us and I just really hate it for this team. Unfortunately, they got the raw end of the stick and it seems like no one else did."


   You can read Vickers' USA Today article here.

NASCAR adds Jeff Gordon to the 2013 Chase

   JOLIET, Ill. - After a review of the "total circumstances" of Saturday night's Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Chairman Brian France has elected to add Jeff Gordon to this season's Chase for the Sprint Cup, which begins Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

   Gordon will be added as a 13th driver to the field, which already includes the Top 10 in series standings plus two wild cards based on number of wins.

   NASCAR has also placed the Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations on probation for the remainder of the year.

   NASCAR will hold a mandatory meeting with teams on Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway in which in will spell out its policies and rules regarding team orders and other team communication issues going forward.

   "More than anything, it's just the right thing to do," France said. "There were just too many things that went on that gave a clear disadvantage to (Gordon)."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. loses pit crew member to injury

   Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of 12 drivers who begin this weekend to compete in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, will be without one of his regular pit crew members, at least for several weeks.

   Hendrick Motorsports officials confirmed Friday morning that rear tire changer Joe Slingerland suffered a serious injury in a non-work related injury accident earlier this week and will miss much if not all of the Chase.

   David Mayo will fill-in for Slingerland during his absence.

   Slingerland told the Web site PitTalks.com he suffered a broken wrist and concussion in a accident at the U.S. National White Water Center on Tuesday night.

   Read the story at PitTalks.com here.