No recourse for the antics, Robby ... but I understand (cont'd)

According to Gordon, he was first told he would restart in the lead. Great news -- it's gonna be a green-white-checkered flag and Gordon is in the pole position.

Hold on Robby, NASCAR here and we've done some re-calculating and you are now going to start just behind Mr. Ambrose -- not the best thing he's heard all day -- but anybody who has led an Indy 500 race can surely make up one spot over the final two laps.

Right and wrong

Celebrating a win that wasn't was a mistake on Robby Gordon's part. He knows that. He also knows NASCAR made mistakes that day in Montreal.

• Complete story, click here
• Video: Gordon, NASCAR react
• Video: Wild finish in Montreal
• Gordon gets fine, probation

Sorry, Mr. Gordon -- it's us at NASCAR again -- we've dug up a rule that states that "a driver must maintain a cautious pace to be scored." Somehow, I think it's hard to maintain a cautious pace when you've been spun out like a moth in a tornado.

Worse still is that looking at the replays, there is no doubt in the world that Gordon was spun under caution! I'm not kidding -- do yourself a favor and go find the replay. Check out the ESPN bug -- the caution is out on its screen and Gordon is still running fine -- then moments later he gets bumped in clear view of a yellow flag. Can't we at least throw the guy a freakin' bone? Also, please don't say it's "just one of those racin' deals." If I never hear that expression or "that's just Manny being Manny" again the world will be a better place.

Here is where it gets interesting, though. Gordon has just been told that even though the race is under caution with him in at worst second, he is losing spots -- all the way back to 13th. It's that rule about "cautious pace" haunting him when in fact, he got spun by a not-so-cautious Ambrose.

Now there is a choice to be made. Gordon can either: follow the rules, go back to 13th, file a useless and meaningless protest and no doubt, have the whole event forgotten about; or he can take a stand. Remember, he's completely ticked, he feels he's been wronged on a technicality that NASCAR dug up and he won't have a chance to even the score against the man that took a win from him. Keep in mind, at latest check, Gordon is a human being and does experience actual emotions.

Gordon decides to take a stand and in his own words, this is the stand he took:

"Obviously I objected, and I stated that I would complete the race under protest. I believed that my protest would be a foregone conclusion if I moved to position 13. I was confident that most people who watched the race or see the replay would agree that I should have been scored in first or second. I also wanted to make sure that the race played out the way it should if the officials ultimately agreed with me after seeing the tape and granted my protest. Therefore, I decided to preserve the status quo by holding the second position and racing from that position to the end of the race."

Again, I'm not saying I agree with what Robby did and he certainly was not in the above crystal-clear frame of mind ... but after reading this statement, I really understand.

The funny thing is that if you look on his Web site, Gordon declares that racing "kept me out of trouble." Now the renegade one-car Nextel Cup driver and owner has ripped the bad boy mantle clean out of the hands of Tony Stewart and the Busch brothers. That trio now looks like choir boys next to Rebel Robby ... but still, given the events that led to the problem, more than ever, Robby Gordon, I understand.

Question of the Week

Survey time folks! This means more work for me, but I don't care. Let me know what you think but start with a simple yes or no. The question is: Was Robby Gordon treated fairly by NASCAR? I can't wait to see the e-mails. Send your e-mails directly to my inbox at Beau@Turner.com.

Last week's Question of the Week

History was on my mind last week. I wanted to know if fans thought that the Hendrick Motorsports drivers would win six of the remaining races in the season and eclipse the single-season percentage of owner victories in the Modern Era.

The people have spoken and the answer in a somewhat closely contested debate is ...
• Yes: 56 percent
• No: 44 percent

I must admit that all of these votes came prior to Kurt Busch's victory at Pocono so now the numbers are slightly more difficult but still, to me, this would be a remarkable achievement.

Here are the best responses ...

I am in no way an HMS fan. I will be though when Junior arrives there next season. But I will have to say yes, HMS will break the percentage of wins for a team this year. [Jeff] Gordon and [Kyle] Busch will win more races. Hendrick has been dominate this season doing everything they needed to do.
Misan from Maryland

I really respect someone who admits they are not a fan of a team, but respects what they do enough to appreciate that team's greatness. (Continued)