Motorsports

Burton enjoys time hanging with Devil

J.J. Redick had a basic understanding of how much Duke men's basketball makes Jeff Burton's heart flutter. He got a much better idea Monday at the Magic's practice facility, where the NBA guard faced the Nextel Cup veteran in a game of h-o-r-s-e - make that D-a-y-t-o-n-a - at a media function promoting the July 7 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

By BRANT JAMES
Published June 12, 2007

ORLANDO - J.J. Redick had a basic understanding of how much Duke men's basketball makes Jeff Burton's heart flutter. He got a much better idea Monday at the Magic's practice facility, where the NBA guard faced the Nextel Cup veteran in a game of h-o-r-s-e - make that D-a-y-t-o-n-a - at a media function promoting the July 7 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

"I knew that he was a Duke fan. I didn't know to what level, " Redick said. "I knew he'd been going to Cameron (Indoor Stadium) since he was a kid, which is pretty cool.

"About twice a week (on Duke basketballreport.com), it has a quote from him, I think it goes, 'I think you can rest assured I'm not a Carolina fan. I was raised better than that.' Something to that effect."

Burton, the 2000 Pepsi 400 winner who was third in this year's Daytona 500 and stands fifth in driver points, seemed to enjoy being a fan.

"It was pretty cool to get to meet him, " he grinned. "You go around and see them shoot a basketball and (think) how easy it looks. When you go to do it and see how they consistently do it well, it's pretty amazing what they do."

So how big a Dookie did he show himself to be?

"Oh, he's up there, " Redick said. "He was telling me how he and his brother still have four tickets. We were talking about how hard it is to be in North Carolina and be a Duke fan, because everyone there is either a Carolina fan or a (N.C.) State fan. It's like being a minority. I've definitely earned some respect for him. It went up a notch."

Perhaps that's how Burton, wearing jeans, casual black leather walking shoes and a white jersey with his car number (minus the Pepsi logo so as not to give his Coca-Cola backers an embolism) lasted so long. That and having former Magic guard Nick Anderson take care of a few 3-pointers for him.

"After the first three or four shots I realized I could make it short and sweet, but I wanted to make him feel good, and I was shooting 7-footers, " Redick admitted. "I missed a lot of those on purpose. I always let everyone get a few letters on me. It's a level of respect. This is a thing for Daytona, and I didn't want to embarrass him in front of all these people."

Redick was also covering himself in case he's ever invited to play on Burton's court.

"I would expect him to give me a break on the track, " he said.

Just like Burton said he did.

"I'm a guest, " he said. "My momma taught me to be a courteous guest."

DAYTONA CHANGES: Track president Robin Braig said he is holding the same test dates the Indy Racing League used on the DIS road course last January, though series officials have not yet requested them.

And though he said no discussions have been held about a race at the facility, Braig said several renovations are being made to the permanent road course with "input from the IRL." Several concrete telephone poles hazardously close to the track are to be removed and the old steel fence in what is called the "horseshoe" will be replaced. Drivers such as Helio Castroneves were concerned about dangerous areas of the course, especially considering the track was used only to test.

Braig said the facility will be given a major "redress", including "lots of gold paint" and massive hanging signage for the 50th Daytona 500 next February. He said the track is in the process of locating each of the previous 49 winning cars for a planned parade.

Weekend winners

1. Lewis Hamilton: For most every fan outside of the United States, the rookie rules the motorsports universe after earning his first Formula One victory in Montreal.

2. Steve Letarte: The newest crew chief genius pits around the leaders and the showers to get Jeff Gordon to Victory Lane again.

3. Sebastien Bourdais: The three-time defending Champ Car champion won his third straight race this season at Portland and gave bosses Carl Haas and Paul Newman their 100th victory.

Weekend waners

1. Dan Wheldon: Was running in the top three when a wheel popped off A.J. Foyt IV's IndyCar at Texas, starting a chain reaction that left him with a DNF.

2. Martin Truex: If only NASCAR had thrown what looked like a gimme caution for Jimmie Johnson's tire explosion before the rain at Pocono, he might have won for the second straight week.

3. Kurt Busch: Got a vote of confidence from team owner Roger Penske after his 100-point penalty for the Dover pit road nonsense. Those always work out.

[Last modified June 11, 2007, 23:09:09]