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Sprint Cup
CUP: SPEED Talent Q&A - Las Vegas
SPEED experts look ahead to a busy weekend of NASCAR in Las Vegas...
Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 by NASCAR for comments deemed derogatory about the Gen-6. (Photo: Getty Images)
SPEED ANALYSTS TALK WEEKEND AHEAD AT LAS VEGAS
Q: Where do you weigh in on Denny Hamlin’s refusal to pay the fine NASCAR imposed on him? Did NASCAR go too far?
“If you look at history, Hamlin ultimately will pay the fine one way or another. No one has ever successfully resisted NASCAR sanctions, and he’s not going to be the first. However, I think NASCAR went too far. I find it utterly baffling Brad Keselowski made some pretty sweeping and derogatory statements about NASCAR and how it operates and was not fined, yet Hamlin made a comparatively minor comment when he got out of the car in the heat of a race, and was hit with a fine. I think it’s ridiculous.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: Is it too early in the season to declare Carl Edwards “back?”
“Edwards is relevant again and is a championship contender. The last time he broke his 70-race winless streak, he went on quite a tear afterward and challenged for the title.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED analyst
“It’s definitely not too early to make that statement. It had been nearly two years since Carl had been to Victory Lane. Returning to winning form is the best way for any driver to announce ‘I'm back!’ Pairing a competitor like Carl with a success story like Jimmy Fennig will prove to be magic. And remember, Bob Osborne still has his hands on that car and is a key to its success, too.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and NASCAR on FOX pit reporter
“It is probably too early to declare that, but I think he’s going to have a good year. Jimmy Fennig is one of the sharpest minds in the garage and has been for three decades or more. Secondly, Edwards is a guy whose emotions carry him a long way up or down, and I think he was weighed down by last year’s frustrations. I think he literally will be lifted up by breaking that winless streak.”
--Tom Jensen
Q: Did the Gen-6 race car pass its first real test of the year at Phoenix?
“I think it passed, but it didn't score an A+. The downforce is there, and that is what drivers and NASCAR wanted. But it seems some tweaks still need to be made, specifically to the aero package. It probably won't take much, and you can bet teams and NASCAR are working on it. But the cars shouldn't be ‘easy’ to drive. These are the best drivers in the world, and they should have to work at it.”
--Krista Voda
Q: How key is this weekend’s race at Las Vegas to tweaking the new car going forward?
“I think it’s going to take anywhere from six to nine months before this car is really dialed in. Unfortunately, the problem this season hasn’t been the car. It looks better and is great, and I’m sure it will be up to speed soon. The problem, however, is that expectations have been so sky high. This car isn’t going to change water into wine. People must be patient and I think NASCAR has to be a little restrained about selling the virtues of this car. Once it’s sorted out and crew chiefs have a better grasp of it, I think it’ll be great. But that will take time, so everyone needs to be patient and manage their expectations.”
--Tom Jensen
Q: Did Jimmie Johnson have a legitimate case in questioning Carl Edwards’ final restart at Phoenix?
“That’s not a story. We heard Jimmie say NASCAR gives them ample room to play the game. Carl played the game and he won. Jimmie got beat on the restart. Carl may have slowed it down a bit, but we heard Jimmie say ‘play the game.’ The leader controls the restart. Carl wins the race. This is not a controversy.”
--Kyle Petty, SPEED analyst
“They have lines painted on the walls that mean ‘go.’ Quit the whining. Jimmie has no point. NASCAR tells you in the driver’s meeting to go at the line and Carl went.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
“It's the leader's prerogative to use the restart box however he/she chooses, and that is one of the perks of being the leader. I respect Johnson, but I'm with Edwards on this one.”
--Krista Voda
Q: Crew chief Jimmy Fennig has 37 Cup Series wins with five different drivers. Can he put Carl Edwards back in championship contention in their first season together?
“Absolutely. Fennig did that a year ago with Matt Kenseth when he was getting ready to leave Roush Fenway Racing. They had a great rapport and really were strong, winning the Daytona 500 together. Jimmy is a very unusual gentleman because he has adapted so well and kept up with the times. He knows how to work his engineers and deal with his driver. He believes in structure, and if Carl will listen to him and work with him, the results can be very rewarding.”
--Jeff Hammond, SPEED analyst
“He certainly seems like the right guy to put Edwards back in championship contention. Kurt Busch had his best season with Fennig, Mark Martin had some great seasons with him, as did Matt Kenseth. Fennig is a pro and doesn’t get rattled. He’s very knowledgeable and skillful. Any driver would be happy to have a crew chief of his caliber.”
--Tom Jensen
Q: Where do you weigh in on Denny Hamlin’s refusal to pay the fine NASCAR imposed on him? Did NASCAR go too far?
“If you look at history, Hamlin ultimately will pay the fine one way or another. No one has ever successfully resisted NASCAR sanctions, and he’s not going to be the first. However, I think NASCAR went too far. I find it utterly baffling Brad Keselowski made some pretty sweeping and derogatory statements about NASCAR and how it operates and was not fined, yet Hamlin made a comparatively minor comment when he got out of the car in the heat of a race, and was hit with a fine. I think it’s ridiculous.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: Is it too early in the season to declare Carl Edwards “back?”
“Edwards is relevant again and is a championship contender. The last time he broke his 70-race winless streak, he went on quite a tear afterward and challenged for the title.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED analyst
“It’s definitely not too early to make that statement. It had been nearly two years since Carl had been to Victory Lane. Returning to winning form is the best way for any driver to announce ‘I'm back!’ Pairing a competitor like Carl with a success story like Jimmy Fennig will prove to be magic. And remember, Bob Osborne still has his hands on that car and is a key to its success, too.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and NASCAR on FOX pit reporter
“It is probably too early to declare that, but I think he’s going to have a good year. Jimmy Fennig is one of the sharpest minds in the garage and has been for three decades or more. Secondly, Edwards is a guy whose emotions carry him a long way up or down, and I think he was weighed down by last year’s frustrations. I think he literally will be lifted up by breaking that winless streak.”
--Tom Jensen
Q: Did the Gen-6 race car pass its first real test of the year at Phoenix?
“I think it passed, but it didn't score an A+. The downforce is there, and that is what drivers and NASCAR wanted. But it seems some tweaks still need to be made, specifically to the aero package. It probably won't take much, and you can bet teams and NASCAR are working on it. But the cars shouldn't be ‘easy’ to drive. These are the best drivers in the world, and they should have to work at it.”
--Krista Voda
Q: How key is this weekend’s race at Las Vegas to tweaking the new car going forward?
“I think it’s going to take anywhere from six to nine months before this car is really dialed in. Unfortunately, the problem this season hasn’t been the car. It looks better and is great, and I’m sure it will be up to speed soon. The problem, however, is that expectations have been so sky high. This car isn’t going to change water into wine. People must be patient and I think NASCAR has to be a little restrained about selling the virtues of this car. Once it’s sorted out and crew chiefs have a better grasp of it, I think it’ll be great. But that will take time, so everyone needs to be patient and manage their expectations.”
--Tom Jensen
Q: Did Jimmie Johnson have a legitimate case in questioning Carl Edwards’ final restart at Phoenix?
“That’s not a story. We heard Jimmie say NASCAR gives them ample room to play the game. Carl played the game and he won. Jimmie got beat on the restart. Carl may have slowed it down a bit, but we heard Jimmie say ‘play the game.’ The leader controls the restart. Carl wins the race. This is not a controversy.”
--Kyle Petty, SPEED analyst
“They have lines painted on the walls that mean ‘go.’ Quit the whining. Jimmie has no point. NASCAR tells you in the driver’s meeting to go at the line and Carl went.”
--Jimmy Spencer, SPEED analyst
“It's the leader's prerogative to use the restart box however he/she chooses, and that is one of the perks of being the leader. I respect Johnson, but I'm with Edwards on this one.”
--Krista Voda
Q: Crew chief Jimmy Fennig has 37 Cup Series wins with five different drivers. Can he put Carl Edwards back in championship contention in their first season together?
“Absolutely. Fennig did that a year ago with Matt Kenseth when he was getting ready to leave Roush Fenway Racing. They had a great rapport and really were strong, winning the Daytona 500 together. Jimmy is a very unusual gentleman because he has adapted so well and kept up with the times. He knows how to work his engineers and deal with his driver. He believes in structure, and if Carl will listen to him and work with him, the results can be very rewarding.”
--Jeff Hammond, SPEED analyst
“He certainly seems like the right guy to put Edwards back in championship contention. Kurt Busch had his best season with Fennig, Mark Martin had some great seasons with him, as did Matt Kenseth. Fennig is a pro and doesn’t get rattled. He’s very knowledgeable and skillful. Any driver would be happy to have a crew chief of his caliber.”
--Tom Jensen
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