Jeff Gordon Follows the No. 48 onto Pit Road

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What was Steve Letarte thinking that Jeff Gordon had to come down pit lane with teammate Jimmie Johnson?

This being one of the hardest pit roads to get off the track without getting hit from behind and the smallest amount of distance to be down to pit road speed before the start of pit road line.

He was in fourth place and Johnson in second place at the time, so Jeff couldn't really see him right away as well.

What Was Said from Steve to Jeff

This all being said to him as he was coming to the turn. Why didn't he ask Chad what lap if this was a team thing.

No, it can't be that, because this track is not a draft up to speed track.

If anything, Jeff should have pitted before the 48 and with new tires try and make up the distance from fourth place to first and be in the clean air before Jimmie gets to it.

Jeff is no rookie to get his car to pit road. If he knew ahead of time what lap to come and not by sight of another car or crew chief yelling "Pit this lap, this lap."

What Could Have Been

Now if Jeff was warned sooner he came down pit road and Jimmie slides in his pit box and Jeff gets tires and gas and is off setting him up with a great chance to win the race.

Instead he had to lock up his tires and miss pit road and keep going around and had flat spotted a tire and that tire letting go.

He did stay on lead lap and get a great finish but not what he might have been able to do before this.

Many think this was the turning point of the race. Not so, if you ask me.

Turning Point of the Race

Just a few laps before green flag stops, Jimmie Johnson tries to take the lead from Jeff Burton and was cut off by the lap car of Scott Speed. This gave the go-ahead for Jeff Burton to pass and keep the lead.

If Jimmie makes the pass and Steve Letarte still wants Jeff to follow Jimmie down pit road, this would give Steve more time to see when Jimmie hit pit road and give Jeff Gordon a sooner warning to slow up and hit pit road safe and sound.

He passes Jimmie on pit road, and maybe he gets the win.

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