Reckless Robby recants (sort of)
So Robby Gordon didn't mean exactly what he said about Danica Patrick after all: "The only thing I was saying was that I have a problem with the rule, not any particular driver. I've been impressed with Danica from the first time she got in an IRL car earlier this year, and I certainly did not mean to disrespect her or any other driver."
His original comment that got Gordon in trouble, in case you forgot it: "I won't race against her until the IRL does something to take that advantage away."
I'd say he has a problem with one particular driver.
Anyone read these comments any other way?
Comments (5)
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Unfortunately Robbie came accross as a jerk on this one. I did not hear him complaining about Sarah Fisher's weight (or lack thereof) when she was competing in lesser equipment. Granted Fisher is not as small as Danica Patrick; but she isn't "2-ton Mary" either.
You never heard two of the greatest drivers the country has to show for it complain as their waistlines grew, namely A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti.
On the NASCAR side I have never heard any complaints about the size of Mark Martin and any unfair advantage he has; granted stock cars are another animal compared to IRL. On the other side of the weight spectrum I have never heard Jimmy Spencer or Michael Waltrip complain. If you want to go back to the 60's & 70's I wonder if Robby is familiar with Buddy Baker and Tiny Lund.
As two "non-race fans", Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon, said yesterday, make the weight Robby.
Posted on June 1, 2005 4:34 PM
The difference is, NASCAR has a rule in place IRL doesn't. They base it off of 200 lbs. for the driver. Lets say a guy weighs 150 lbs. NASCAR rules say the team has to add 50 lbs. to the car so it will be equal to the rest. And in the IRL, no such rule exists. It does make her faster, but not by much. But racing is about tenths of seconds, so I see where Robby is coming from.
Posted on June 1, 2005 6:55 PM
Thanks Matt, I was not aware such a rule existed. Is NASCAR specific about where the weight must be added, ie. somewhere on the left side near where the driver sits?
Posted on June 2, 2005 8:59 AM
What Mark said -- thanks for the clarification on NASCAR's weight rule. I had heard it existed but wasn't sure of the details. I'd love to know, too, where a car has to carry the extra ballast. I think they put lead weights somewhere in the frame?
The weight disparity probably is a little bit of a bigger of a deal in IRL, where the cars weigh (iirc) about half that of your standard NASCAR stock car.
As for the importance of tenths of seconds, just ask Bobby Labonte about that.
Posted on June 2, 2005 9:39 AM
I don't think there is a specific place, but most teams add the weight to the bottom of the car to help it suck down to the track better.
Posted on June 2, 2005 10:19 AM