Telling from a handful of red-faced, breathless drivers at the end of Pocono's 500-mile race last weekend, one of two things need to happen: Improve the new car's cooling and ventilation system, or drivers need to invest in a gym membership.

Flushed and winded as if he ran 500 miles as opposed to driving 500 miles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. could barely speak in his post-race interview.

Struggling to catch his breath, this was not the first time the sport's most popular driver looked distressed after a race.

Other drivers, including overly sweaty Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers, ignited questions as to where the real problem lies -- 500 miles in more than 90-degree heat, faulty car design or a lack of cardio on the drivers' part.

Hot around the collar, both literally and figuratively, Hamlin and Vickers ranted Sunday and, more or less, said the new car was an inferno on four wheels.

"Oh, double and away, they are too hot," said Vickers of his Toyota. "The problem is it's a team and competition and we want to keep the cars light and go fast but we're killing ourselves. We're going to the infield care center after the races and that's ridiculous. NASCAR needs to step in and say we have to do something to cool these cars down and help us. It is extremely freaking hot out there."

Drivers go to the infield care center, yes -- it's customary after crashes -- but I'm unaware of drivers flocking to there for heat exhaustion this season or last. Hamlin has been a handful of times, not because he crashes, but for what usually are flu symptoms.

Still, Hamlin agreed with Vickers and said the new car is the culprit: "They are hot. They are hotter than the old car, by far.

"Even the first time we got in these cars, I think me and Brian were at the very first test, at Charlotte, and it was just too hot. I don't know what the temperature inside the car is, the difference, but these cars are way hotter than the old car. The ventilation is not near as good, even though we have a bigger window, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it just does. I just think the way that the exhaust runs, the way that the exhaust has to run in the car, it's closer to the floor pan, and that's going to make the car hotter itself."

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It's tough on us drivers. I was glad I wasn't the only one, either. I saw Brian [Vickers] and even Junior needed a second to breathe. It's just tough. We're trying as drivers to do everything we can to stay hydrated but these cars are just way too hot.

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DENNY HAMLIN

Hamlin makes a valid point and driver discomforts should be taken seriously, addressed immediately in fact.

That said, I can't help but ask, where were all the complaints last season when track temperatures were nearly as hot, namely at tracks such as Phoenix International Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway?

The new car was first implemented in the March 25, 2007, race at Bristol and ran a partial schedule of 16 races.

Sunday's race winner Kasey Kahne is not the poster boy for fitness in the garage. He does, however, have a personal trainer, so whatever he is doing outside the track is working.

After the race, Kahne was fine. Be it his endurance or the cooling technologies in his car, Kahne wasn't in need of CPR after the race.

"I think our cars are good with heat. The guys work hard at the shop to make them as cool as they can underneath the seats and try to keep the exhaust heat away from me," he said. "I ran some different hoses [Sunday] to try to blow on my chest and things that I do when it's hot. I felt pretty good all day. My heart from about Lap 120 to the end was pumping pretty hard. I could feel it pumping, but it wasn't like I was overheating."

Two-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who has in the past touted his physical fitness as an asset in the car, said he felt fine after the race, great in fact.

"I feel great, it is just those first steps after 500 miles in a car, the belts are so tight and you are trying to get the blood back to your feet," Johnson said. "I was pushing the gas pedal so hard trying to catch the guys in front of me, my foot is asleep."

A tingling foot was all, but Johnson didn't complain of head exhaustion.

By all accounts and the extreme-sport mentality at Red Bull Racing, Vickers has always appeared to be in shape, but he still had major complaints about his condition in the car.

He said after the race he was "about to fall over."

"... And just knowing I'm not the only one makes me feel a little bit better," Vickers continued. "It's brutal. These cars, I don't know what we have to do as a sport ..."

Added Hamlin: "It's tough on us drivers. I was glad I wasn't the only one, either. I saw Brian and even Junior needed a second to breathe. It's just tough. We're trying as drivers to do everything we can to stay hydrated but these cars are just way too hot."

Kurt Busch echoed Hamlin's sentiments and said the temperature in the new car seems to be at least 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the old car.

Further, the Penske Racing driver said the new car is more physically demanding.

More reason to hit the gym, right?

Although Busch feels the drivers' complaints about the car will fall on deaf ears.

"Who knows what NASCAR can do," he said. "They don't seem to like to listen to the drivers."

Not the case, said Kerry Tharp, spokesperson for NASCAR.

"NASCAR listens to what the drivers have to say and continues to work with the teams in all aspects of safety and competition," he said.

Tharp added that teams typically do a variety of things to alleviate heat buildup in the cockpit of their car, including insulation of the exhaust under the floor pan around the driver and the routing of fresh air to the driver's helmet and other areas.

"Other important factors to consider are the driver's physical conditioning, diet and hydration prior to the race," Tharp added.

It will be interesting to see how the issue plays out in the coming weeks. Will changes be made to the new car, or will drivers re-examine their fitness levels?

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.