21 replies to this topic

[Pikachu Racing]

I know this is off-topic but I know there are some Rampage Robby fans around. As you know three weeks ago, Robby Gordon was released from Morgan-McClure team. His second attempt to run a full-season didn't last more than five races. Best qualifying effort was 26th (old Rock) and best finish was 20th (Atlanta). He had a car running up to fourth but ended up in the chain reaction crash. His current replacement Kevin LePage finished 15th and 11th in his first two races with the team despite taken a provisional and qualified 34th. That was some improvement with LePage in the wheel. Sadly for Gordon, he solid good driver that can drive anything but has yet done well in NASCAR. He's a driver without a ride as of right now along with Scott Pruett. Robby will be known as the driver who couldn't drive jack in NASCAR instead for his two wins in CART.

[Manson]

The guy's a headcase, I've heard stories from people in the sport. The guy soils his firesuit if you get my meaning. Surprised he's lasted this long.

[Ivan]

Originally posted by Manson
The guy's a headcase

That says it all.

[Frank Grimes]

He's certainly a head case. That's why he's entertaining from a fan's viewpoint. From a team member's viewpoint, he appears to be a nightmare. You have to respect that wierd wide resume he has. Off road, endurance, cart, and Winston cup?

My favorite memory of him was in '96 during some cart road course race. His Ford engined-Reynard coasted to a stop somewhere off course. He got out, kicked the ford insignia, and then gave a TV interview saying what a pig the engine was. If you're going to burn bridges, do it big!

[Ross Stonefeld]

He's a good driver for sure, I remember mid way through the 95 season (I think) he was tied for the CART lead with J Villeneuve

NASCAR's hard to read. It's oval racing. On Ovals the driver is much more restricted by the car and its setup. You really cant drive around the car on an oval. Thats why even the top guys have some really shitty races on the ovals

[Newtsche]

Gordon won one CART race to my recollection. Yeah, I remember him bad-mouthing his teams more than once. His Valvoline car was nearly the champion the next year in DeFerran's hands. I also remember Gordon, when asked to comment on the fatal Krosnoff accident that happened several places in front of him, and Gordon took the opportunity to whine about the other drivers in general, the ones like Greg Moore that consistently beat Gordon badly. I remember Gordon at the Indy 500 last year, ignoring the understanding about spacing at the start, so he could grab the lead for a few feet and jeopardizing the whole front row, JPM in particular had to take brilliant evasive action to avoid contact. Gordon brings out the worst in everyone around him and IMHO should go to Baja and not come back.

[John B]

Gordon's problem is his attitude. He may have had the ability to do well in NASCAR (he won a pole and led a race his rookie year, and has had some good road course runs), but for the second time he's alienated a team and demonstrated a willingness not to learn from others. I was amazed how openly the Kodak team badmouthed him even before he got released, and the word is the owner was willing to shell out a fortune to get out of his 5 year contract after only a few races. There was a great line in Autoweek when he was released "For those of you who had five races in Gordon's departure pool, remember the 125 mile qualifying race at Daytona doesn't count."


In Indycars RG had two wins in 1995, at Pheonix and Detroit (US drivers finished 1-5!!!) He was as mentioned at/near the points lead, but wrecked badly at Michigan the next race, missed the race with concussion, and never caught up. Some would say the effects still linger.............

[Greg L]

Is Robby Gordon a bad NASCAR driver? Yes. And I agree, the man IS a head case!

[Joe Fan]

Robby has a lot of talent but it is probably not in low downforce cars. For whatever, he can't keep them on the track for 500 miles. I think Kevin Lepage's effort in Robby's old ride this weekend pretty much tells you all you need to know about his performance. Kevin had the 4 car near the front late in the race instead of on the hauler.

[indysteve]

Robby's problem is not with low downforce on the car -- he needs more downforce on his mouth! John B, you are exactly right. Robby's "my way or the highway" attitude is certainly not conducive to developing a good team, and especially so when he acts like that in a series where he has yet to reach any significant level of achievement. I think he has talent, but he won't get a chance to develop it if he continues to behave badly.

I liked A.J. Foyt's comment on the situation. When he heard Robby had been fired, he said Robby could be a great driver "if he had an operation and had his vocal cords removed.''

[jimm]

I met Gordon a few years ago, '95 I think because it was at a race the JV was on the Cart pole. I was still racing national Karts and had a freind there running F2000. Anyway, when I talked to De Ferren or Villie, or any of the other drivers they were all concentrating on the race, the car, the motor etc. Liked to discuss Karts, their data, the last F1/ Cart race, JV moving into F1 or whatever there was to talk about in racing. When I talked to Gordon he was more interested in getting his pit crew to go find him girls than work on his car. As an intersting side note, I went by Emmo's pits the same race and talked to his mechanics. I asked them "wheres Emmo?" The guy says "who the **** cares. He's an asshole." I said "really?" the guy says "why do you think we haven't bothered to put his car back together yet?"

The next day Emmo only went about 20 laps before he DNF'd and he was out of a drive the following year.

[mkane]

R Gordon is a headcase. These pictures are taken in the dunes of Southern California about 3 hours from my house. They are real, and show the boy wonder in his prepared off-road truck.

[Louis Mr. F1]

can't see the above pictures.

but who cares how Robby does, this guy drives with his dirty heart and not his head and he caused so many crashes at his time. Putting Eddie Irvine side by side with Robby Gordon, it makes Eddie like the most professional driver in the world. Those who like his crashing, bumping style, i believe, are also WWF fans!!! Who don't know what real racing is all about.

[Duck]

I believe it was '98 just after Robby Gordon signed on with Felix Sabates' Winston Cup team.... Gordon convinced Felix to sponsor, and field his Indy effort. There was a great article in Car & Driver regarding that debacle. Robby had no qualms about freely spending Sabates' money, and alienated almost everyone he came in contact with. The whole effort was a disaster, and not long there-after, Felix washed his hands of the Wonder Boy. But it appears that Robby has a real propensity to piss people off with his mouth and attitude - too bad, because at one time, had he conducted himself appropriately, I think he could have been quite successful. His recent appearance on RPM2Night showed an overweight, paunchy, and pathetic figure - STILL clueless as to what's going on.

[mkane]

Sorry, try that.
http://www.glamisdun...1#1/pages/2.htm
http://www.glamisdun...1#1/pages/1.htm

[CSK]

Not bad-terrible! It was Gordon who started the crash that took out half the field at Daytona. Hopefully his dismissal will lead to retirement.

[MattFoster]

You either GET Robby or you don't.

[Pikachu Racing]

I remember this one incident from last year at Daytona. 125 Qualifiers or practice, he and Tony Stewart got together in the back stretch. Both had a verbal confrontation at the garage. Tony responded, "Learn how to drive a NASCAR!" which drivers and teams agreed.

Another incident which he on purposely ran into Michael Andretti after the checkered flag flew at Cleveland. Don't forgot one of the founding members of "Michael Andretti Driving For the Blind" club.

[CSK]

Much as I don't like Gordon he will never punt as many guys off the track as Mikey has. Mikey gets away with it because of his last name. You mentioned the "Andretti Driving School For The Blind" which was first start by Paul Tracey after numerous altercations with Mikey. In the eyes of the head steward Tracey always seemed to be at fault contrary to what was quite often obvious.

[DEVO]

Gordon sucks at everything. So at least he does that well. :yawn:

[Joe Fan]

Originally posted by CSK
You mentioned the "Andretti Driving School For The Blind" which was first start by Paul Tracey after numerous altercations with Mikey. In the eyes of the head steward Tracey always seemed to be at fault contrary to what was quite often obvious.

For crying out load, Paul Tracy is brutal. He hit cars in every means possible last year: going into a corner, coming out of corner, going into the pits, coming out of the pits, his teammate, etc. He has questionable car control and should be trading paint in the NASCAR Busch Grand National series where he belongs.

[Frank Grimes]

Originally posted by Louis Mr. F1
Those who like his (Gordon's) crashing, bumping style, i believe, are also WWF fans!!! Who don't know what real racing is all about.

My 2nd favorite Gordon moment was when he threw sand in Villenueve's face and beat him down with PPG trophy at Laguna Seca '95.

That was cool.