Debate on closing M'ville laps overlooks good racing

Much has been said, written and broadcast about the Car of Tomorrow over the past few weeks. A reasonable summary of what we now know follows:

• The cars are not sexy to look at.
• They're racy on short tracks.
• They didn't stop Earth from spinning on its axis.
• They don't spin very easily, even when provoked.

• Send Tom your thoughts

That last point wasn't proven out until after the dust-up between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson at the conclusion of the Goody's Cool Orange 500 at Martinsville Speedway. In those final laps, we saw Gordon attempt the classic bump-and-run at turn entry. We saw Gordon get fully beneath Johnson mid-turn and attempt to push him up the track. We saw Gordon get just a nose underneath Johnson and nudge his rear wheels loose at the exit of the turn.

Every assault was repelled by Johnson, who held on for the victory. Great stuff.

For a week now, it seems all anyone can talk about is whether or not Jeff should have spun Jimmie out. Or about how mad Jeff is at Jimmie for not yielding to the faster car. Or about how next time, the gloves will come off; as if they weren't off at the time.

You people have completely missed the point.

Plain and simple, what we saw in those closing laps was a clear demonstration of what separates Gordon and Johnson -- and a precious few other drivers -- from every one else in Nextel Cup.

First off, at no point was either driver ever going to stuff the other into the wall. These guys are consummate professionals. In the heat of battle, both had the presence of mind to realize that there was no upside to any one driver dispatching the other.

And yet, there they were hammering hard on each other in alien racecars, with everything on the line and with so much to lose.

Jeff went right up to the line, but did not cross it, delivering every ounce of kinetic energy to Jimmie's bumper, fender and door in an effort to get by without spinning his teammate. It was an amazing display of aggression balanced against discipline.

Conversely, Jimmie did everything in his power to win that race. Let's face it, he was a hard-nosed SOB in holding off the faster car driven by his teammate and his own car's co-owner. His was an equally amazing display of car control and poise under pressure.

These guys are as good as it gets at any level of racing.

I'd also wager a frosty adult beverage that the restraint shown on both sides was also due to the amount of respect they have for Rick Hendrick. Would you want to explain to Mr. Hendrick how and why you blew a sure 1-2 finish? No thank you.

During Gordon's post-race interview, I suspect there may have been the smallest degree of showmanship in his comments, but only insomuch as Jeff came off being personally irate at Jimmie. And that's where so many people took the bait.

Jeff's a pure racer. He couldn't possibly be mad at Jimmie for doing what he's paid to do. Gordon was simply mad he didn't find a way to win.

The only fallout I see from that race is if ever in the future Jeff lays a bumper to someone and it results in a spin, he's going to have a hard time convincing me it didn't happen on purpose.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.