| | | | | |  | | CIA Stock Photo | Although admitting he went a bit beyond the line while bump drafting in practice, Hamlin claimed he was not the only one doing so. | | | | COT RED HANDED | Hamlin slams CoT after punishment | |
| | By Diego Mejia / Autosport.com Denny Hamlin has criticized the Car of Tomorrow following punishment from NASCAR officials after he was deemed to have been a bit too aggressive while bump-drafting during practice at Talladega Superspeedway.
NASCAR parked Hamlin for the last fifteen minutes of the first practice at Talladega, after drivers were advised before running that there would be action levied when needed against drivers using their bumpers beyond what they consider permissible.
The Joe Gibbs driver criticized the Car of Tomorrow following his punishment, blaming its aerodynamics for helping promote bump drafting, given that it has more drag and creates a bigger tow than the current car.
"It is tough to say that monster is not created," Hamlin said. "Now, we just have to deal with it. We have created a monster with this car on a superspeedway and you are not going to keep... They wanted to punch a big hole in the car so the cars run closer at every racetrack.
"So, do they want them to run farther apart at a superspeedway? It is not going to happen. They designed the cars to run closer, but if you don't want contact, then you are going to have to penalize everyone that makes contacts."
Although admitting he went a bit beyond the line while bump drafting in practice, Hamlin claimed he was not the only one doing so. He said his program was not affected by NASCAR's punishment, and in fact he didn't run in the second practice session of the day.
"I think they made a general warned right at the beginning to everyone to stop using the front bumper," Hamlin added. "After that, I got hit probably 20, 30 times. Figured I would just keep doing what I was doing. I guess, right there at the end it was a little excessive."
"I was finished there anyway, but they parked me at the end. I don't know. We asked us what was the difference in us and everybody else with the front and back bumpers beat off. They said we were on TV while we were doing it, so I guess, doggone TV cameras."
Hamlin was one of several drivers warned by NASCAR during practice for bump drafting. It remains to be seen if any action will be taken during the race given how difficult it will be for officials to police the whole field.
| | Posted October 06, 2007 , 10:57 pm EST
Last Updated October 06, 2007 , 11:11 pm EST | | | | | | | | | | |
