Robby Gordon Mailbag: New rule needs tweaking

Robby, what's your take on the crisis that is taking place with the CART circuit? I became a fan of yours when you competed in Champ Cars. Do you still have any friends there? - Bill Hickey, Atlanta

	Robby Gordon says Paul Tracy could figure out how to run on NASCAR tracks. Credit: Autostock

I still have a lot of friends in CART. I still enjoy CART racing, because it is a different style of racing. I mean, they run street circuits. They run road courses. They run super speedways and short ovals. I think CART needs to focus on their premier events like Long Beach and Toronto.

Denver looked like a good race and I think they ran the Streets of Dallas last year in Texas. They have some good venues with their oversea races, as well, and they all seem to do real well.

I would like to see the series continue, but I think that over here in America, we are confused with two open-wheel series. People have a hard time deciphering between what is CART, what is IRL, what is the Indy 500 and why the CART guys run it when it's an IRL race. There is a little confusion that doesn't help the current situation.

What would you think of Paul Tracy joining NASCAR? I think he would make a huge impact with his driving style (get out of my way or else) would really heat things up a bit. Let it be printed here first. Paul Tracy will win the 2005 championship and along the way, put the young guns in their place. What do you think? --Mike McCaughey, Whitby, Ontario, Canada

I welcome Paul anytime to come over here and play with us, but it is a different driving style here. Christian Fittipaldi came over and is trying to do it, but it truly takes a while to learn what it takes to make these cars go fast. I think Paul is a good race car driver, and I know he would eventually figure it out.

ROBBY GORDON  •  Driver Page  •  2003 Season Stats  •  Video Highlights  •  Driver vs. Driver

With the new rules about caution flags, do you think laps will be made up by fuel strategy more than racing back onto the lead lap? --George, Wayne, N.J.

Yeah, unfortunately the key right now is to give one guy his lap back, but if you get stuck on pit lane or something like that happens, you can lose up to three laps. So, I think NASCAR needs to think about modifying that rule a little bit and maybe give a pass to the first guy one lap down, the first guy two laps down and the first guy three laps down.

For example, the guys two and three laps down could just have the opportunity to move up where they are only one lap down. Then, the fastest guy one lap down could get his lap back. I mean, it is a good rule. I am just tossing some other ideas out there, because it definitely needs some work.

It is a little double-sided, because if you are the guy spun out on the racetrack, you like the rule. But, if you are one of the guys just about to get one of your laps back and you could have raced back to the flag to get it with the old rules, you don't like the new rule.

When it comes right down to it, NASCAR normally does a really good job trying to keep it fair and safe for both sides, so I am sure they are not done with their drawing boards yet.

The new lap back rules do not seem fair to cars two laps down. My question is do you think NASCAR will ever go to a CART/IRL rule about giving a lap back to anyone ahead of the leader behind the pace car, but not allow the car to pit? The CART rule seems perfect! You got two laps back under it in the 1998 CART Fontana race. --George Pallas, Pasadena, Calif.

	Credit: Autostock

Yeah, in CART and IRL, if you are a lap down and you are ahead of the leader, you get waved around the leader. If the leader pits and you are still in front of the leader, you get waved around, but then you can't pit. I think that is a pretty good rule, too, but obviously NASCAR is feeling out this new rule right now. I am sure they are going to come up with a good solution that will make everyone happy ... well, almost everyone.

I am a big NASCAR fan of yours, also a big off-road fan. I am wondering if you are doing the Baja 1000 this year? Also, are you building a Chevy truck? --Ricardo Suarez, El Centro, Calif.

Yes, I will be running the Baja 1000, and you are correct, I am building a Chevy truck. I drive for a Chevrolet team in Winston Cup, so we are driving two new trophy trucks and both of them are Chevrolets. RCR is actually building the engine for me through its relationship with Chevrolet, and we are building the body in California for the Chevy trucks. So, we will have two Chevrolet trucks in this year's Baja 1000.

Do you still like to go to Glamis during Thanksgiving Weekend? Do you do this for fun or does it help with your NASCAR racing? --Linda Eserini, Santa Clara, Calif.

Yes, I plan to go to Glamis. Glamis is Thanksgiving weekend, which is the weekend after the Baja. I don't know if my truck will still be running after Baja! I cross my fingers it will still be running, so we can take it to Glamis, but we also have been developing a new off-road style sand car that seats four people. We'll have that in Glamis, as well. I do it all for fun. It is something that has intrigued me for years. Actually, I have been going to Glamis for about 20 years now and still like to go back.

Is Greg Biffle coming with you to Glamis? Hope to see you out there! --Mark Stevens, Chandler, AZ

Greg Biffle went to Glamis before Fontana and broke his wrist on his quad, so he said he can't go until after the season is over. So, I would say there is a good possibility Biffle will show up and hang out with us Thanksgiving weekend.

What is the name of the awesome orange color that is used predominantly in your car's color schemes? Is it a signature "Robby Gordon" color that was created for you by GM? My fianc? races karts, and I would like to use it in his paint scheme for next season. Thanks for your time. Good luck with the rest of the season. I feel that you are really finding your groove, and wish you the best! --Lynda Clune, PA

Thanks for the well wishes and I am glad you like the orange. That color is called Day Glow Red. That orange color is a 'team-effort creation' that was developed specifically for me and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless crew by Richard Childress Racing and Sherwin-Williams.

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.