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Notebook: R. Gordon looking at hectic month
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive May 7, 2004
11:58 AM EDT (1558 GMT)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Robby Gordon is looking at a month of May that would frazzle the nerves of a lesser man.
Robby Gordon
Gordon, who owns his own Indy Racing League and NASCAR Busch Series teams and drives for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, is scheduled to be in one of the three race cars for 17 of the 23 days between May 8 and 30.
Gordon will compete in three Busch Series races in as many states during that period, driving his No. 55 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet. He has two Nextel Cup point races, plus the NASCAR/Nextel All-Star Challenge before his month culminates on the 30th with his 10th Indianapolis 500 followed by the twilight Coca-Cola 600 Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Amazingly, on only nine of the 23 days is track activity scheduled in more than one of the series. Luckily for Gordon, 35, there are only two days when all three divisions are on-track: May 14 and 22.
In both cases, Gordon will skip Indy in deference to his NASCAR rides. Gordon will qualify his Cup ride at Richmond on May 14. Gordon will qualify for the 88th Indy 500 on May 15.
Proving he's a glutton for punishment, Gordon is vigorously pursuing sponsorship to allow him to do Busch Series events this month at Nazareth, for which he's currently entered and Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is not on his schedule.
It's the third consecutive year that Gordon has attempted the Memorial Day "Double." His grueling month begins Saturday when he'll practice and qualify his Busch car for Saturday night's Charter 250 at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis.
ROBBY GORDON
• Driver Page
• 2004 Season Stats
• Video Highlights
• Driver vs. Driver
The official start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday.
Gordon proved he had a worthy ride for the Brickyard when he took part in a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to heading to California Speedway for last Sunday's Auto Club 500.
Gordon was third quickest among the teams that participated in the warm-up test session, cutting a best lap of 218.921 mph in his No. 70 Meijer Dallara Chevrolet.
"Any time you can come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and be capable of running up front, it's a good day -- especially for us, a new team that hasn't been racing in the other IRL events," Gordon said. "Even though you pull a lot of Gs in the middle of the corner, it's (Indy 500) a very mental race.
"I've been able to do it, slide over to the Coca-Cola 600 and be very competitive there, as well."
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive May 7, 2004
11:58 AM EDT (1558 GMT)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Robby Gordon is looking at a month of May that would frazzle the nerves of a lesser man.
Robby Gordon
Gordon, who owns his own Indy Racing League and NASCAR Busch Series teams and drives for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, is scheduled to be in one of the three race cars for 17 of the 23 days between May 8 and 30.
Gordon will compete in three Busch Series races in as many states during that period, driving his No. 55 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet. He has two Nextel Cup point races, plus the NASCAR/Nextel All-Star Challenge before his month culminates on the 30th with his 10th Indianapolis 500 followed by the twilight Coca-Cola 600 Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Amazingly, on only nine of the 23 days is track activity scheduled in more than one of the series. Luckily for Gordon, 35, there are only two days when all three divisions are on-track: May 14 and 22.
In both cases, Gordon will skip Indy in deference to his NASCAR rides. Gordon will qualify his Cup ride at Richmond on May 14. Gordon will qualify for the 88th Indy 500 on May 15.
Proving he's a glutton for punishment, Gordon is vigorously pursuing sponsorship to allow him to do Busch Series events this month at Nazareth, for which he's currently entered and Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is not on his schedule.
It's the third consecutive year that Gordon has attempted the Memorial Day "Double." His grueling month begins Saturday when he'll practice and qualify his Busch car for Saturday night's Charter 250 at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis.
ROBBY GORDON
• Driver Page
• 2004 Season Stats
• Video Highlights
• Driver vs. Driver
The official start of practice for the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday.
Gordon proved he had a worthy ride for the Brickyard when he took part in a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to heading to California Speedway for last Sunday's Auto Club 500.
Gordon was third quickest among the teams that participated in the warm-up test session, cutting a best lap of 218.921 mph in his No. 70 Meijer Dallara Chevrolet.
"Any time you can come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and be capable of running up front, it's a good day -- especially for us, a new team that hasn't been racing in the other IRL events," Gordon said. "Even though you pull a lot of Gs in the middle of the corner, it's (Indy 500) a very mental race.
"I've been able to do it, slide over to the Coca-Cola 600 and be very competitive there, as well."