Robby Gordon Mailbag: Improving despite woes

The last few weeks your car seems to be loose everywhere you run. Is the team having trouble with the new 2003 body style? Hopefully, you'll figure it out soon.

-- Tony Johnson, Kahoka, Mo.

	Robby Gordon

We've made no secret at Richard Childress Racing that we're having some trouble with the new 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body. But we're learning more about it each and every week. My teammate Kevin Harvick tested at Texas Motor Speedway before the race and learned a lot. As a whole, the RCR cars ran pretty well last week at Texas, and we think we made a lot of progress. Harvick did well, as did Jeff Green, and the Cingular team improved on our mile-and-a-half race track program. We know exactly what we need to do next time we go to a track like Texas. Yes, we've had some trouble with the new body but we've really made a lot of progress lately.

What do you think your greatest strengths and weaknesses are as a driver?

-- Beth, Colorado Springs, Colo.

I'm strong at superspeedways lately, and I'm pretty good at short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol. I love and have had a lot of success on road courses -- they're my strongest suit on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. But we've got to work on the mile-and-a-half program, whether it's just me as a driver who needs work or the Cingular team and Richard Childress Racing as a whole. But we made some improvements at Texas last weekend in that department and have a list of additional things to change to help us with that program.

What are your thoughts on restrictor-plate racing? Would the restrictor-plate racing be better or worse with the plates off?

-- Brinton, Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Man, if the plates were off at Talladega, we'd be running 230 mph this week. I think NASCAR has done a good job of keeping it safe for the drivers and fans. I'd like to race without restrictor plates, but I don't know how safe it would be for everyone else. Pretty unsafe, I'd have to say.

Robby, I would like to know how you feel about the switch to smaller fuel cells now that you have raced on several different types of tracks utilizing it. What changes have you made on your pit stops to accommodate to these fuel cells?

-- Erin, Muncie, Ind.

Some people dislike them, but I think the smaller fuel cells are good for the fans. I like them because it's an opportunity to out-brake someone getting into the pits and position myself to gain a spot. I am for the smaller fuel cells because I think it produces an all-around better race. To make it a little more exciting and team-oriented, NASCAR could mandate that the teams have to change four tires each time they pit. Right now, teams are changing two tires or no tires and taking fuel only on many of the pit stops. I think the race would be more exciting and back in the hands of the teams if four-tire stops were mandatory.

With regard to qualifying, what do you and the Team Cingular crew needs to do, to improve your starting positions?

-- Jeff Adkins, Bend, Ore.

Oftentimes, what will help in that situation is just sheer experience. Last year, I was going to some of these tracks for only the second time in my career and for the first time at a couple of them. Many of the Winston Cup drivers have driven most of the tracks numerous times and have that vital experience at these places. Last year was my first full season in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and I was just getting acquainted with some of the aspects of some of the tracks. This year, we're still fighting the new body style a bit but once we get that all dialed in, I know the Cingular team will be a contender each weekend.

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I've followed your career for a long time, since the Chip Ganassi days in CART. Which of the many owners that you've driven for is the most fun to work for?

-- Jason Scott, Green Bay, Wis.

Richard Childress. He's as competitive as anybody out there, and he knows what it takes to win races. But he also knows how to have a good time. He goes hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and all kinds of different activities outside the racing world. He's even driven my Baja Truck on his farm before. I really enjoy driving for Richard right now. He is a very down-to-earth guy.

Robby Gordon drives the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Before arriving in NASCAR's top division, Gordon enjoyed success in the CART Series and off-road racing.

Throughout the 2003 Winston Cup season, Gordon will answer questions from SI.com users in a weekly Mailbag.