INDIANAPOLIS -
"Senior Circuit."
Not likely to be used by NASCAR Sunday during the Brickyard 400.
How about "Awesome Bill From Dawsonville."
The might be able to find some room for that, if it can get out of the shadow of Mark Martin.
Read: Martin Drives to First Brickyard 400 Pole
Covered up by the exploits of the 50 year old Hendrick driver-who took the pole position for Sunday's Brickyard 400-was the feat of 54 year old Bill Elliott. For the second time in as many races, he took the Wood Brothers Ford to the top ten in qualifying, placing fourth for Sunday's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"I was really worried about Bill Elliott," admitted Martin when he took the early pole on Saturday. "He still had to go when it was hot and late, and he still qualified fourth."
Getting to this position for the Brickyard 400-which Elliott won in 2002-has taken a combination of patience and will on behalf of the driver and the team, who are now running on a reduced schedule due to the loss of a few sponsors over the past few years.
"We were able to come back and go to a shorter group (of races) here and really make it work," said Elliott of his adjustments this season. "Ford Motorcraft is still keeping us in a good direction."
Read: Wes' Mess Blog on 1997 Brickyard 400
Meanwhile Elliott and his team have strategically picked courses more suited to their strenghts: Mile-and-a-half to Two-and-a-Half ovals on the Sprint Cup Circuit. He's started six races, not including Sunday's Brickyard 400, with a high finish of 15th a the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte on May 24th.
"We need to stick to what we do and what we know right now," said Elliott of staying on the oval tracks. "Until we get the money or the funding to go more, we've set a path and we're gonna stick to it, and that's what these guys need to do."
Read: Brickyard 400 Driver Interviews
Also affecting Elliott's schedule is the racing career of his son, 13-year old Chase, whom he still works with often.
"That's keeping me away some," said Elliott of his commitment to his son's career. "But I still enjoy coming back."
Not likely to be used by NASCAR Sunday during the Brickyard 400.
How about "Awesome Bill From Dawsonville."
The might be able to find some room for that, if it can get out of the shadow of Mark Martin.
Read: Martin Drives to First Brickyard 400 Pole
Covered up by the exploits of the 50 year old Hendrick driver-who took the pole position for Sunday's Brickyard 400-was the feat of 54 year old Bill Elliott. For the second time in as many races, he took the Wood Brothers Ford to the top ten in qualifying, placing fourth for Sunday's race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"I was really worried about Bill Elliott," admitted Martin when he took the early pole on Saturday. "He still had to go when it was hot and late, and he still qualified fourth."
Getting to this position for the Brickyard 400-which Elliott won in 2002-has taken a combination of patience and will on behalf of the driver and the team, who are now running on a reduced schedule due to the loss of a few sponsors over the past few years.
"We were able to come back and go to a shorter group (of races) here and really make it work," said Elliott of his adjustments this season. "Ford Motorcraft is still keeping us in a good direction."
Read: Wes' Mess Blog on 1997 Brickyard 400
Meanwhile Elliott and his team have strategically picked courses more suited to their strenghts: Mile-and-a-half to Two-and-a-Half ovals on the Sprint Cup Circuit. He's started six races, not including Sunday's Brickyard 400, with a high finish of 15th a the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte on May 24th.
"We need to stick to what we do and what we know right now," said Elliott of staying on the oval tracks. "Until we get the money or the funding to go more, we've set a path and we're gonna stick to it, and that's what these guys need to do."
Read: Brickyard 400 Driver Interviews
Also affecting Elliott's schedule is the racing career of his son, 13-year old Chase, whom he still works with often.
"That's keeping me away some," said Elliott of his commitment to his son's career. "But I still enjoy coming back."
