The hot topic of the weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been fuel-mileage races and how NASCAR can move away from them in the future.
Jeff Gordon: No Magic Solution To End NASCAR Fuel-Mileage Races
With nearly every driver availability dominated by questions about conservation techniques, whether they are good for NASCAR and what can be done to prevent them, veteran Jeff Gordon said there is no simple solution.
Gordon pointed out drivers and teams are going to do whatever it takes to win races and fuel conservation is something they have “talked about all year long.”
He said NASCAR’s move to the smaller fuel cell has not helped the situation, but does not believe a larger fuel cell would make much difference. For Gordon, the lack of tire wear and fewer cautions have led to more fuel-mileage races this season.
“It’s just when the caution falls. It doesn’t matter if you have a five-gallon fuel cell or a 55-gallon fuel cell, if the caution doesn’t come out it’s a fuel-mileage race,” he said. “I meant that’s what we need to go back and look at.”
Echoing Kyle Busch’s comments earlier in the day, Gordon said Goodyear is making a tire that does not wear as much and increased down force on the cars have created less cautions and, as a result, more fuel-mileage duels.
As for a solution, Gordon said he does not have the answer, saying, “I’m not an engineer; I’m only a race car driver.” While admitting he could contribute with suggestions, he said there are “smarter people” that “could resolve it better.”
"It's a combination of working with the teams, NASCAR and the tire manufacturer to make the car and the racing and the tire the best it can be and I think we continue to do that," he said.
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