Nascar Race Today

Jimmie Johnson, left, and Jeff Gordon would support a longer race at Watkins Glen that includes the Boot section. (Photo: Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports)

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- The road course at Watkins Glen International has been on display for NASCAR fans since the Sprint Cup Series found its way there in 1986. Much of it anyway.

The full course used by Formula One and the IndyCar Series during their stints at Watkins Glen gives way to the track's short configuration during NASCAR weekend. The short course measures 2.45 miles whereas the long track is 3.4 miles.

"The Boot" section of the track, which was added in 1971 midway through Formula One's 20-year run at the track, instead turns into campsites around the outside of the course.

Although fans have a chance to see the long course in action during other race weekends, a question that has been asked with greater frequency is whether Nationwide or Sprint Cup cars will ever race on it.

Some of the drivers are game.

"Absolutely," replied four-time Glen race-winner Jeff Gordon when asked if he'd like to see the series use "The Boot". "For years I always said put more turns in and I think we'll have a better chance at better results.

"I like road courses and I like challenges, so I at least would like to give it a shot one time."

Jimmie Johnson has driven the long course in a Grand-Am Rolex Series car at Watkins Glen and said he's up for the challenge of driving a Cup car on it.

"I would love to see them race down through there," said Johnson, a five-time Sprint Cup champion.

Five-time Watkins Glen race winner Tony Stewart, who is out this weekend after breaking his leg in a sprint car crash Monday in Iowa, had the opportunity to drive on the long course two years ago during a car swap with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton. Afterward, Stewart talked enthusiastically about the full course.

"It's such a historic racetrack," he said at the time. "There are some pretty cool corners down there that we don't get to run on a Cup weekend."

Of course, there is a flip side to the enthusiasm. Johnson and Gordon both said there may be unforeseen safety issues for the stock cars on the tight turns in 'The Boot'.

"I don't know the turn number, but the first corner would be exciting in one of our race cars," Johnson said. "You can crest the hill and have a blind entry into that left-hander. I could see us having some big problems there would be my only concern.

"But we're professionals. We understand the risks and I think it would be worth the risk to run us through there. It is a very, very fun experience down through The Boot."

Said Gordon: "Would we have brake issues? I don't know all the ins and outs because I've never driven it."

The big argument against using the long course is that it takes longer for the cars to come around, providing less action for fans at the track.

WGI President Michael Printup said he is open to the possibility of using the long course, though he also doesn't want to do anything that would compromise the fan experience. Printup has talked casually about the possibility with NASCAR Senior Vice President of Operations Steve O'Donnell and NASCAR President Mike Helton.

"From (the track's) point of view, it's been a big topic. Tony's brought it up numerous times," Printup said. "We'd take a look at it. I'm not against it. There's no bleachers back there, there's no services back there. We'd have to look at the whole logistics; it's not just open up the course and race. You've got to make sure people are taken care of.

"I would be a little worried, honestly, about adding a mile to the track. ... We'd probably have to reduce the laps to work in with TV and everything else, all the other TV partners we have. I wouldn't want to give the feel of short-changing people by making the race longer."