Wallace wary of Gordon from start

Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999 | 8:46 a.m.

line ASSOCIATED PRESS

The use of headset scanners that allow eavesdropping on conversations of racing teams have become commonplace among NASCAR fans.

Those radio transmissions can tell the story of the race. Last Sunday, Jeff Gordon won on the road course in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Here are some excerpts from the race:

The dialogue began before the green flag waved to start the race. Polesitter Rusty Wallace was already worrying about Gordon's strategy, figuring he would make a move at a certain turn on the twisting course.

"That's where Gordon is going to try to get me," Wallace told crew chief Robin Pemberton.

Wallace barely held off Gordon, who started third, on the first lap as they raced past the start-finish line.

"I got my points," Wallace said, referring to the five bonus points a driver gets for leading a lap.

Gordon assumed the lead seconds later.

Later on, when a car started smoking, Wallace came on: "What's Gordon saying?"

"Jeff is saying there's oil all over the track," came the reply from the pits.

"There's some oil on the back straightaway. I can see it," Wallace said, then zoomed past Gordon for the lead as the No. 24 car slowed nearing the oil-streaked part of the track and the caution came out.

Pit stops came next.

"I'm 180 (degrees) on the water," Wallace said. "I don't know if you put any tape on it (the front grille) for downforce."

"OK everybody, look alive!" Pemberton shouted. "Here we go!"

Jeff Burton, who started 27th and finished 13th to remain fourth in the standings, got an encouraging word from his pits midway through the race.

"We're still in OK shape," crew chief Frank Stoddard said. "You've got plenty of time to get back up there."

Wallace, who also led laps 34-41, began looking in earnest in his rear view mirror after Pemberton issued a familiar warning.

"Keep an eye on that 88 car," Pemberton said, referring to points leader Dale Jarrett, who stalked the lead all afternoon and finished fourth. "Let us know what he's doing."

Road-racing ace Boris Said, who stunned everybody by qualifying second, gained the lead on lap 21 and held it for nine laps. Trouble struck on lap 48.

"I've got bad, bad vibrating in the motor," Said yelled as he entered the pits. "You've got to push it up the hill. I don't know if it's going to make it."

"Get me a jack over here! Come on!" a pit crew member shouted.

"Take your time analyzing this, guys," a calming voice said seconds later. "You don't want to do something stupid."

The analysis: Broken motor. The finish: Next to last.

Gordon regained the top spot on lap 71 and assumed a comfortable lead over Wallace, Ron Fellows, Jerry Nadeau and Jarrett. No need to get careless.

"Take it easy," crew chief Ray Evernham told Gordon. "Don't waste your tires on those guys. No pressure. When you come around there'll be 20 to go. Pretty much you and Rusty are the race."

When the caution came out seconds later, Gordon wondered what to do.

"Stay out! Stay out!" Evernham said. "We're done, Bud. It's time to take care of your tires. Keep it on the track."

Gordon replied with some encouraging words.

"This thing actually seems to get better as the fuel load goes away," he said.

"I've got that guy standing around in case we need him (to drive)," Evernham joked.

"I might need him for these last five laps," Gordon said.

"Make sure your tires are cleared off," Evernham warned before the green flag. "There'll be 19 to go."

Fellows, another road-racing ace, passed Wallace on the next lap and set his sights on Gordon.

"Take it easy, man," Evernham said with 14 laps left. "He's getting wild behind you."

Moments later, Evernham again: "Six laps. Real good. No pressure."

One final caution with three laps to go changed that, turning the finish into a two-lap shootout between Gordon and Fellows. Gordon held him off by less than a second and Evernham came on one last time.

"You are the best," he said. "You're awesome. You are the best."