Gordon optimistic for good race

By Brian Hilderbrand

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 | 1:19 p.m.

Two days of testing on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval led Jeff Gordon to believe that fans can expect better racing when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns for the March 2 UAW-Dodge 400.

Because of the combination of a hard tire on a reconfigured and newly paved track, many drivers complained of the conditions for last year’s race. At least one driver, Tony Stewart, said the conditions bordered on unsafe.

Gordon said he didn’t anticipate the same kinds of problems for this year’s race – in part because of the introduction of the “Car of Tomorrow,” which is being used on a full-time basis this season.

“We have to have multiple-groove racetracks with this car -- except for a short track where you can bump them and bang them and move guys out of the way,” Gordon said. “At any other track, you’ve got to have multiple grooves. So this track had a really nice outside groove down turns 1 and 2 the last time we were here; a little bit in turns 3 and 4.”

During this week’s test, Gordon said, the racing groove started out around the bottom of the track but started widening out as more cars put down more rubber.

“I think we’ll see that in the race, so that’s a good thing,” Gordon said of an additional racing groove.

“This car punches a big hole (in the air). When it does that, it’s going to be tough to ride in right behind the guy in front of you. But the side-by-side seems to be excellent and the draft that you get down the straightaways is really good. I’m hoping that those things create some great passing and overtaking and great racing.”