R. Gordon eyes various series outside of NASCAR

For the first time since 2001, owner/driver Robby Gordon will not attempt a full Sprint Cup Series schedule, opting instead to diversify in several directions -- including a possible Indianapolis 500 attempt, the X Games and a Monster Truck program.

In an audio clip from Sirius' Tradin' Paint posted on his team's Web site, Gordon said a lack of sponsorship for his No. 7 Toyota would force that program's reduction, including splitting the schedule with new ally BAM Racing. Gordon, the 2009 SCORE Trophy-Truck champion, said he also would compete in a variety of off-road events.

Gordon

The multi-talented Gordon, who earlier this year failed to reprise his 2009 podium run while finishing eighth in the grueling two-week Dakar Rally, said he was considering a return to IndyCar. He finished fourth in the 1999 Indy 500 and last competed in the event in 2004.

"It's definitely interesting times," Gordon said. "We've got a couple things that are obviously pretty decent and I'm pretty happy about that right now. We're getting ready for Daytona."

This year's Daytona 500 will be Gordon's 12th start in the Great American Race, but for the first time in nearly 10 years he won't be looking at a full season. Monster, the same company that backed his Dakar effort, will be on Gordon's car for the season opener.

"We've got a commitment with Monster Energy to do a few NASCAR races, and Daytona is one of those races," Gordon said. "Between our Monster Energy program and the deal we've got put together with BAM and Warner Music Nashville, we're trying to piece it so we can keep one car running all the time. That's obviously our goal.

"Neither of us has any interest, as in none -- like, zero -- in start-and-parking. So obviously if we're not going to go to the race track to run full-time, we're not going to go at all."

Gordon, who recently announced he'd hired engineer Iain Watt as his crew chief, confirmed that both teams would field newly built, sponsored cars in the Daytona 500, where BAM's entry would have to qualify either on speed or in its Gatorade Duel 150.

Gordon said he might run a No. 7 BAM Toyota at California with Warner Music onboard and then revert to his own Monster car at Las Vegas.

"We'll be doing some mixing and matching," Gordon said. "Obviously, there are some conflicts with some other programs I've got in place with Monster so that I won't be able to drive all of [the Cup races], but we should be able to make it work."

Gordon said the teams had "a fleet" of intermediate cars prepared for the races following Speedweeks and that he anticipated a new car being ready "every three weeks" after that.

"I feel our cars are as good as anybody in the garage area," Gordon said. "I think my pit crew has stepped up the game and having Iain Watt over here as my crew chief/engineer, I think we'll have a good season."

Gordon said he had ongoing business relationships with 10-year backer Menards and Mapei, a company that was on his Cup cars last season, but he wouldn't say what their involvement would be in 2010.

"The most important thing for us to do is put high-scoring points on the scoreboard," Gordon said. "And when I mean high, that's low numbers -- like one, two, three, four, five. We need to run in the top five and that's obviously our goal."

Gordon, who operates Robby Gordon Off-Road in California, said he even planned to build a USHRA Monster Truck.

"I'm looking forward to that because I've never built a Monster Truck," he said. "I'm looking forward to building [that] and going against Grave Digger. We've always been dominant in off-road racing, so I look forward to this project."

Gordon said in addition to running the SCORE Baja 1000, continuing the Hummer program he used for the Dakar and "some rally stuff," he was "giving serious consideration" to going back to the Indianapolis 500.

"Obviously, [to be in the Cup garage every weekend] is our goal," Gordon said. "Unfortunately there are going to be some schedule conflicts [because] I'd really like to do the X Games' rally deal and I would like to do the Indy 500.

"There's some things I want to do, that I feel are important for my career."