Vickers Barred From Team Meetings

In a published report last weekend, it was revealed that Brian Vickers is no longer allowed to participate in Hendrick Motorsports team meetings.

Many were taken aback when Brian Vickers announced that he was leaving the powerhouse team of Hendrick Motorsports for the brand new Red Bull Racing (Toyota) team. After the announcement was made, Vickers had a few strong performances- Pocono and Loudon come to mind.

But recently, things appear to be falling by the wayside for Vickers and the 25 team in 2006. It all started a couple of weeks ago at Loudon, New Hampshire when Vickers and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon had a couple of intense battles while racing towards the front of the pack. After the race, the Chase for the Championship contending Gordon was highly disparaging of his younger teammate.

Just days after Gordon's criticism, it became public that Vickers was no longer allowed to attend the team meetings at Hendrick Motorsports.

"It's been going on for a while now," said Vickers last weekend at Kansas.

From what I have gathered, fans are about evenly mixed as far as this matter is concerned. It can be viewed two ways.

Vickers is the one who chose to depart from Hendrick Motorsports at season's end to join Red Bull Racing. And Toyota will become a heated rival to Chevrolet when it debuts in 2007. I guess it could be viewed as a conflict of interests.

However, Vickers is still an integral of that 25 team. He is the driver, the quarterback of the team. If Hendrick wants that 25 car in victory lane in 2006, Vickers needs to be present at team meetings. After all, Vickers is moving to Red Bull Racing in 2007, not 2006.

And is Vickers' attendance really that much of a threat. If Vickers can't make the 'team secrets' work while he is with Hendrick Motorsports, what makes them think that he can make them work with a brand new team and manufacturer.

I understand Hendrick's motives regarding Vickers, but personally, I don't see how Vickers' attendance at team meetings would work against the organization.

Vickers will likely carry some of his Hendrick influence over to Red Bull Racing anyway, just like Ray Evernham carried some Hendrick influence over to his own operation.

And I haven't heard, but is Dale Jarrett banned from Robert Yates Racing team meetings? Is Casey Mears banned from Chip Ganassi Racing team meetings?