Oval Office Interviews

Sporting News, The, August 6, 2001 by Bob Margolis

What makes you angry?

Robby Gordon. There are so many competitive drivers in this series that it's hard not to get angry about something every weekend. Everybody has such a strong desire to run well and be competitive that often the simplest things will set you off. I get angry at a lot of things.

Jeff Green. I hate being lied to when you make deals with other teams. From agreeing to give someone their lap back to drafting at super speedways, I believe in keeping your word.

Jeff Burton. People being inconsiderate on and off the track tends to make me angry.

Johnny Benson. Pitting at a short track. Whenever you pit at Bristol or Martinsville, you are worried the caution flag will fall. If it does, you automatically lose two laps if the leader hasn't pitted. It all boils down to luck, and when it doesn't go your way, you get really mad.

Jimmy Spencer. I know things have happened on the racetrack that might look like I've been angry, but that's just racing.

Todd Bodine, When you have a good car, a good team and a good life, it's hard to find anything to be angry about.

DOWN THE ROAD

Race: Brickyard 400, No. 21 of 36.

When: 2:30 p.m. (Eastern) Sunday, NBC.

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile oval.

Last year's winner: Bobby Labonte.

Three to watch: Ricky Rudd, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon.

Key to winning: "You have to have a strong engine. Last year, we learned how to get our car really good through the center of the corners. That made a big difference." --Bobby Labonte

See a different game: Because the corners are more square than round, teams must find the proper points to negotiate them. Many drivers struggled with the tire--the same compound used in the Pocono races--during Indy testing sessions.

TSN's POWER POLL

Rank   Driver               TSN points   Winston Cup pts.

 1.    Jeff Gordon            2,025         2,847 (1)
 2.    Ricky Rudd             1,837         2,802 (2)
 3.    Dale Jarrett           1,836         2,735 (3)
 4.    Tony Stewart           1,543         2,586 (4)
 5.    Rusty Wallace          1,514         2,492 (6)
 6.    Sterling Marlin        1,435         2,529 (5)
 7.    Bobby Labonte          1,430         2,438 (8)
 8.    Kevin Harvick          1,420         2,422 (9)
 9.    Dale Earnhardt Jr.     1,418         2,453 (7)
10.    Mark Martin            1,254         2,325 (11)

Through race No. 20, at Pocono, For a complete TSN Power
Poll rundown and an explanation of the points breakdown, go
to www.sportingnews.com/nascar/poll.

Bob Margolis is an associate producer and contributing editor for Motor Sports Weekly.