Gordon against Villeneuve debut

The four-time Nextel Cup champion has criticized NASCAR for allowing the former Formula One world champion to race against Gordon and the other Chase contenders at such a crucial stage in the championship and with so much at stake.

"I am a big fan of Jacques, but I think this is not the right decision," Gordon said at Kansas on Friday.

"I didn't think it was the right decision with David Gilliland (last year). Nothing against their talent, or anything else, I just look at that race in the Chase. Why? You want to run a race, go to Atlanta, go to one of the mile-and-a-half tracks.

"I am very, very surprised that was approved as his first Cup race. I don't agree with it, but I am not going to lose sleep over it either. Jacques did a nice job at the test, but you can't base anything on a test. I mean, that is just crazy. You have to have a race."

Last year rookie David Gilliland was allowed by NASCAR to race at Talladega despite lacking Superspeedway experience. It was only his ninth Nextel Cup race, but he went on to take pole and finish 15th.

Gordon believes this precedent has made it difficult for NASCAR to prevent Villeneuve from attempting to make the race next week, but he still believes Talladega is not the best place for the Canadian to get his Nextel Cup career started.

"There is too much on the line," Gordon added. "It's a track that is not for rookies. And I think no matter whether he's one of the most experienced race car drivers in the world, it's just not the place to start. There are so many other tracks to start at, why start there?

"It makes no sense to me other than the fact that NASCAR approved Gilliland last year under a similar situation and they kind of got themselves into a box with that one."

The Hendrick driver also said he didn't have anything against Villeneuve, stating he did a good job on his debut at Las Vegas last weekend. However he feels like that sole outing has not given him enough experience to get him ready for what he may encounter on the track if he makes the field at Talladega.

"I watched him in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from Las Vegas last week," Gordon said. "Yes, he did a nice job, but he wasn't really in contention, so [he] wasn't really in the thick of things.

"He just didn't bounce off of anything which was very good. I think that you need to get some experience in something else before you go stick them in the Cup race at Talladega, especially when it is so crucial for the championship."