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The summer is still seven weeks away. But Talladega pole winner Jeff Gordon is already worried about the heat.
In an effort to limit tandem drafting NASCAR has made regulations that cause overheating if cars run nose-to-tail for too long.
"Those temperatures are being managed from the moment that car went on the track yesterday until the end of the race tomorrow. So, even in qualifying we were trying to manage them and not get them too hot," Gordon said after winning his 71st career pole at a speed of 191.623-mph around the 2.66 mile superspeedway.
With a forecast of even hotter weather for Sunday's race water temperatures are on every Sprint Cup driver's mind.
"Basically our entire race for 498 or whatever miles is going to be managing temperatures the best that we possibly can. I think it is going to be...
"The last thing you can do [is] pop that valve off. You pop that valve off, you start losing water, and you're in trouble," said Gordon who drives a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motor Sports.
AJ Allmendinger who was second quick, at 191.111mph, in a Penske Racing Dodge feels Sunday's race has virtually nothing to do with Saturday.
"Qualifying in the end doesn't really matter. If you get the pole, you can at least feel like you're best for a day. We'll be at the front to the back, the back to the front a hundred times during the race.
"You just hope when you're at the front, it's at the right time, at about lap 185 and you stay up there and have a chance to win the thing," Allmendinger said.
Australia's Marcos Ambrose will start third in a Ford alongside teammate, Aric Almirola.
JJ Yeley failed to qualify for Sunday's race.
In an effort to limit tandem drafting NASCAR has made regulations that cause overheating if cars run nose-to-tail for too long.
"Those temperatures are being managed from the moment that car went on the track yesterday until the end of the race tomorrow. So, even in qualifying we were trying to manage them and not get them too hot," Gordon said after winning his 71st career pole at a speed of 191.623-mph around the 2.66 mile superspeedway.
With a forecast of even hotter weather for Sunday's race water temperatures are on every Sprint Cup driver's mind.
"Basically our entire race for 498 or whatever miles is going to be managing temperatures the best that we possibly can. I think it is going to be...
"The last thing you can do [is] pop that valve off. You pop that valve off, you start losing water, and you're in trouble," said Gordon who drives a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motor Sports.
AJ Allmendinger who was second quick, at 191.111mph, in a Penske Racing Dodge feels Sunday's race has virtually nothing to do with Saturday.
"Qualifying in the end doesn't really matter. If you get the pole, you can at least feel like you're best for a day. We'll be at the front to the back, the back to the front a hundred times during the race.
"You just hope when you're at the front, it's at the right time, at about lap 185 and you stay up there and have a chance to win the thing," Allmendinger said.
Australia's Marcos Ambrose will start third in a Ford alongside teammate, Aric Almirola.
JJ Yeley failed to qualify for Sunday's race.