Phoenix

[kaw500]

Saturday night race, COT, Qualifying Thursday.

RG 21st in the drivers standings. 2 points out of 20th and only 125 out of 12th place.
681 points ahead of MIKEE:D

Interesting fact from RG.com;
Gordon ranks 8th in NASCAR’s loop data statistic “closers;” this statistic shows the drivers making up the most ground in the last 10 percent of a race.

[RGFan]

A second team with a driver with similar likes with a cars setup is what can take that "closers data" and turn it into solid setups long before the last 10 percent of a race. Maybe some sponsorship will be stepping up soon.

[RGFan]

Napa Auto Parts sure would look good on the 77

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Napa Auto Parts sure would look good on the 77

If JAPA bails they will bail for good. I'm sure their @$$ is sore.

[JRod]

Hopefully an interesting stat that means good luck for Robby.

The first winner of the first Nextel cup race in 1988 in Phoenix was none other than Alan Kulwicki in the single car driver/owner effort in the number 7.

GAS ON!!!

[bajafox]

Power Ranking is dedicated to the VT victims

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/features/power_rankings/08/phoenix/index.html

[Bricoop]

robby currently 17th in 1st prac.

[RGFan]

Now 25th ..........and falling

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Power Ranking is dedicated to the VT victims

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/features/power_rankings/08/phoenix/index.html

All that matters is RG moved up.

[Bricoop]

RG 41st on time in the COT, this blows

[spalind]

RG 41st on time in the COT, this blows

Wow....a lot of work to be done...guess this is where running a small team really hurts...

[Bricoop]

even worse, POS finally made the show

[RGFan]

POS goes home again, so does Jeremy Bitchfield:D :D :D He was 38th fastest in qualifying, but there were go or go home cars faster than him that made it in. Ward Burton was the last of the go or go home cars to make it in. Dale Jarret used his last Provisional

[dezertranger1600]

hahahaha...omfg what luck he's having.

[Big_T]

I have two tickets for Saturday if any one interested, PM me.

[Bricoop]

even worse, POS finally made the show

EDIT: Forgot to look at who qualified below him. 38th on time and missed the show. Now I don't need to change my signature.

[Bricoop]

wow, 3 fords in the top 25, that's terrible.

[RGFan]

EDIT: Forgot to look at who qualified below him. 38th on time and missed the show. Now I don't need to change my signature.
Dont worry....I saw the 38th for POS and was concerned for a minute as well

[spalind]

Seems like RG and JPM are following each other each week with JPM coming out slightly better each time...JPM starts 36th and RG 38th...Think RG gets right up on him to start and gives him a little tap?

[woundedyak]

I thought Boris Said was running this race? Does anyone have any info on the races he is running?

[Bricoop]

over a month since the last update, and then they give us this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Aaqt0IHfB8

[JRod]

Here are some Pics from Qualifying yesterday... Mostly of RG of course, but a couple others as well. Enjoy.

http://i14.tinypic.com/2itsjfo.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/42ko61h.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4g6tqj9.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/2rzx5dj.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/2w7iuy8.jpg

[JRod]

more pics...

http://i15.tinypic.com/2gt0kl5.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/4hm6aev.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/30af637.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/3zm2o46.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/43307xz.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/4ie3fki.jpg

[JRod]

Last couple Pics-

"Best Friends"
http://i14.tinypic.com/44g4s4k.jpg

Wad's Virginia Tech Car
http://i13.tinypic.com/3z7ri2e.jpg

[Jeepspeedster]

what's with shark fin?

[DEZERTSUB]

is it just me or do these "COT" rides look like honda civics with their wings and front lips???

[RGFan]

Looks like a high freq antenna they would have on an aircraft. Are they allowing data aquisition on the COT's right now during this learning phase of the car? Oh, but look, it is not on the car during qualifying....maybe they were testing the car and that was the data aquisition antenna for the test. Other than that, I do not know. Then again, maybe they are just trying to get us peeps to talk and it is nothing more than a carbon fiber shark fin:D

[JRod]

Not sure what the "fin" was. I didn't see when they took it off because I had a great spot for taking some pics/watching qualifying (it's where I took the pic of Wad's car). It was right up on the fence through a partially open gate. Oh well, needless to say I was moving spots when they removed it.

RGFan, you going out to the race? Lost out last minute on free tix, so I had to scavenge Ebay and ended up low in the stands down on turn 1.

[michael_loomis]

its a magnetic service cap.. like you see at your local car dealership service bay.. nascar style??

[erikh]

RG 7th in the last practice. How'd he pick things up?

erik

[RGFan]

No, not this year, absolutely in the fall. I have been working on the boat, am taking it out tomorrow and have a business trip on Sunday/Monday

[RGFan]

Well, Jeff Green's pit crew rented a vacation home for the weekend two streets over by the country club and are inviting neighbors over to party. Might have to take a trip over:D

[Bricoop]

RG 7th in the last practice. How'd he pick things up?

erik

the number 7, 7th in final prac, first winner ever at Phoenix drove the number 7. First person to ever drive the #7 COT at Phoenix, Robby Gordon.

[RGFan]

Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but his average lap time ws still in the mid 20's. But then again, that is out of the 30's. He likes this track, He ran well on it in CART and he runs well on it in CUP. Hopefully we can finally see the 7 team start to get a handle on this car. There is only so much the teams can do to this car. More cars for testing help the larger teams get up to speed faster, but once teams are up to speed, It is a pretty equal car. All of the aero has been taken out of the car. No advantage there, All chasis and geometry. And even that has been limited. That is why you are seeing teams like TOny Raines and Kenny Wallace run so well with it. RG's time will come. If not, I am starting a petition to get him back into Indy Cars full time:D

[woundedyak]

Well,if tonights race is anything like the Busch race. 10 cautions and hearing the #17 whinning each and every lap is going to make for a long night.It was nice to see Bowyer show is talent.With the COT finally getting some MPH under it and it being a night race. I think everyone is going to be chasing the set-ups and it's going to come down to who ever can survive in the end.

[michael_loomis]

sterno??

hmm fastest ford in HH too.

[RGFan]

sterno??

hmm fastest ford in HH too.

I knew it, I knew it!!!!! POS sabotaged the #7:D

[Mary Kay]

Raceday on Speed had a nice piece about Robby!

[RGFan]

WOW!!!!! They just did a segment on Robby on Speed. Jimmy Spencer said that Robby was one of the best race car drivers in Nascar. BUT...........He is never going to have the wins that he should have because he refuses to go to a big team and wants to do things his way. He chose his words very carefully when he said what he said. He also said that Team Gordon is on the down slide and if he is going to continue to do things the way he has, he is going to have to go partners with another team such as Yates if he wants to have any success. YOu have to have 3 or 4 cars for the testing and on the track to be successful.

I hate to say it, but I really think Jimmy Spencer hit the nail right on the head. He was very complimentarty of Robby. He all but said that Robby made a big mistake by leaving RCR. It just sucks, RObby really should have done things the way that Kevin Harvick, Dale Jr and Dale Sr did it.. Start your company, build it over years, drive for someone else. Then once you have a power house in Busch and trucks, you will have a better rep for sponsors with success in cup, you will have a reputable race team in the minor leagues and have better luck with sponsors if you want to start a 2 or 3 car team in Cup eventually. Hopefully things change for Team Gordon. They are not doing to hot this year and sooner or later, this is year 3, Jim Beam and others are going to want something more then top 20's and top 30's on a regular basis. I have to admit, it hurts to see RCR and the 31 do as well as they are now.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Robby started his team at th right time... If he didn't he would be mired down with the MWRs, BDRs and Red Bulls.

He did it at the right time.

For every guy that says RG can't win with his team is one more level that RG wants to prove them wrong.

[REEVESRacing]

Got RG on the 3d race view and scanner...they sound very focused and smooth today.

Lap 26 of 312, RG running 33 up several spots, saying the car is a "little tite."

Been in front and now right behind Montoya.

[kaw500]

yellow lap 36 @7 33rd about to get lapped Greg called for 1/2 spring rubber to be pulled tight car.

RGFAN did you get PITPASS

[REEVESRacing]

the race view 3d is a trip, 3 diff views, then with the scanner on, dang, feels like your there in a chopper watching!!:D

[kaw500]

Got RG on the 3d race view and scanner...they sound very focused and smooth today.

Lap 26 of 312, RG running 33 up several spots, saying the car is a "little tite."

Been in front and now right behind Montoya.

Reeves what's new? Saturday night wife out of the house race on the 61" DLP and RG on the radio. Life is good

[REEVESRacing]

Damb Rex, udaMAN!!!

We got a pinche li'l 32" hi def on surround sound, a batch of Margs., fish on the Barby, and all this fanzy 3d stuff..

GAS ON!!

You been riding???

[kaw500]

RG 24th lost 2 spots in the standings to 23rd I thought this was a little boring. RGM needs to do some work.

[JRod]

"It's good to be the king..." or apparently it's good to drive for the king since you can do whatever you want. This pic shows two things:

1. The King

2. The a-hole that hit me with the golf cart as he was going to pick up the King. Slammed right into me and kept driving even after I yelled at him.

http://i13.tinypic.com/33wms1g.jpg

[JRod]

Some misc pics from the race- The flag delivery was awesome, as was the representation by the Arizona Army National Guard- who Rob was in town to give tickets to a week-and-a-half ago.

http://i14.tinypic.com/2jb5vug.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/2dtd6de.jpg

http://i19.tinypic.com/4fz6ias.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/3zi5pue.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4dbn7gl.jpg

[JRod]

A few final pics...

http://i18.tinypic.com/4ddnn1v.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/4gsi5iw.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/2zia1y1.jpg

http://i18.tinypic.com/4cmcdqq.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/47mkkyr.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/4i3f7s1.jpg

[kaw500]

Jared, outstanding pictures thanks for sharing

[DanDan]

Did anybody else catch POS's internet comment on INC. Said he quit reading it about 3 weeks ago.

[Bricoop]

race report:

http://www.robbygordon.com/cms/publish/article_865.shtml