Post by dalejrfan on Jun 11, 2005 21:05:45 GMT -5
LONG POND, Pa. -- Dale Earnhardt Inc. director of racing Richie Gilmore Saturday said Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s former crew chief Pete Rondeau has made a commitment to the organization for the rest of 2005.
Gilmore said he was not aware if Rondeau was seeking other crew chief opportunities outside DEI.
"I really don't know -- that would have to be a question for Pete," Gilmore said. "But right now he's been there every day -- he's told me he's committed for the rest of the year and he's been there every day just digging.
"But Pete's a pretty committed guy and I really don't have any doubt on it. Everything Pete's always told me he's been dedicated to it. He's just a really good guy and whatever we ask him to do he'll do for us."
Gilmore said Rondeau, who was rotated out of the crew chief's role for the No. 8 Chevrolet prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway two races ago, would serve in both a number of behind the scenes roles as well as at several racetracks.
"He's still with us," Gilmore said. "He's been working on getting the stuff ready for the 1 for Martin's (Truex Jr.) races and all last week he worked on road course stuff getting it ready for Ron Fellows' test at Watkins Glen.
"That's what he'll be doing for the rest of the year, helping Bono (Truex's crew chief Kevin Manion) getting ready for the 1, and if Bono needs help at Chance 2 getting ready for the Busch championship run he'll help them, too."
Gilmore confirmed plans to place DEI's other Busch Series driver, Paul Menard, in several Nextel Cup races later this season and said Rondeau -- who like Gilmore has a racing background that goes back to their youths in New England -- would be involved.
"He'll be a behind the scenes kind of guy, but he'll probably go to the races with Bono because a couple of them -- especially Indy -- are combination races and will be really tough.
"Bono will be at IRP -- so (Rondeau) will be (at Indianapolis Motor Speedway), helping in that capacity, getting them through inspection and all that stuff."
Gilmore likened Rondeau's role to the one held in 2004 by Slugger Labbe, who was replaced by Rondeau as Michael Waltrip's crew chief while Labbe served in a multi-faceted role.
"It really helps to have someone like Pete," Gilmore said. "We actually had that last year with Slugger when we changed his role and we've had Steve Hmiel in the past to be able to do stuff like that -- fill in when we needed to.
"But with putting Steve on the 8 (as crew chief) we really didn't have that (any more). We're even looking at running Paul Menard in some Cup races towards the end of this year, and Pete will help out with them.
"It's nice to have someone of his experience to help. As a big company you really need to have people like that.
"Hopefully Pete can embrace that and get his satisfaction out of it because he's a good guy -- he can jump right in and have a little bit of fun doing it, because he's had a lot of pressure this year.
"This sport is all about pressure but you've still got to have a little bit of fun, too."
Gilmore said he was not aware if Rondeau was seeking other crew chief opportunities outside DEI.
"I really don't know -- that would have to be a question for Pete," Gilmore said. "But right now he's been there every day -- he's told me he's committed for the rest of the year and he's been there every day just digging.
"But Pete's a pretty committed guy and I really don't have any doubt on it. Everything Pete's always told me he's been dedicated to it. He's just a really good guy and whatever we ask him to do he'll do for us."
Gilmore said Rondeau, who was rotated out of the crew chief's role for the No. 8 Chevrolet prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway two races ago, would serve in both a number of behind the scenes roles as well as at several racetracks.
"He's still with us," Gilmore said. "He's been working on getting the stuff ready for the 1 for Martin's (Truex Jr.) races and all last week he worked on road course stuff getting it ready for Ron Fellows' test at Watkins Glen.
"That's what he'll be doing for the rest of the year, helping Bono (Truex's crew chief Kevin Manion) getting ready for the 1, and if Bono needs help at Chance 2 getting ready for the Busch championship run he'll help them, too."
Gilmore confirmed plans to place DEI's other Busch Series driver, Paul Menard, in several Nextel Cup races later this season and said Rondeau -- who like Gilmore has a racing background that goes back to their youths in New England -- would be involved.
"He'll be a behind the scenes kind of guy, but he'll probably go to the races with Bono because a couple of them -- especially Indy -- are combination races and will be really tough.
"Bono will be at IRP -- so (Rondeau) will be (at Indianapolis Motor Speedway), helping in that capacity, getting them through inspection and all that stuff."
Gilmore likened Rondeau's role to the one held in 2004 by Slugger Labbe, who was replaced by Rondeau as Michael Waltrip's crew chief while Labbe served in a multi-faceted role.
"It really helps to have someone like Pete," Gilmore said. "We actually had that last year with Slugger when we changed his role and we've had Steve Hmiel in the past to be able to do stuff like that -- fill in when we needed to.
"But with putting Steve on the 8 (as crew chief) we really didn't have that (any more). We're even looking at running Paul Menard in some Cup races towards the end of this year, and Pete will help out with them.
"It's nice to have someone of his experience to help. As a big company you really need to have people like that.
"Hopefully Pete can embrace that and get his satisfaction out of it because he's a good guy -- he can jump right in and have a little bit of fun doing it, because he's had a lot of pressure this year.
"This sport is all about pressure but you've still got to have a little bit of fun, too."