2009 California Race Weekend Discussion

Join in here and discuss all the weekend activities at California for Robby Gordon. Here is the schedule for the weekend. First practice is Friday, Feb 20 at 3:00 pm EST, followed by Qualifying at 6:40pm, est,. 2 practices on Saturday, and the race is on Sunday , at 5:00 pm ,EST . Don't forget live chat on Sunday, from 10am-10pm.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by wingit on February 20, 2009 at 11:34pm

The #7 Jim Beam is a fast good looking car. Nice job starting 12th. The time is right for a top 5.

Permalink Reply by Mike Andersen on February 21, 2009 at 12:45am

ROBBY GORDON, No. 7 Jim Beam Toyota Camry, Robby Gordon Motorsports
Finishing Position: 12th

Are you pleased with your car? "I was until I saw (Brian) Vickers' lap and I guess I'm not as pleased as I thought we were. He beat us two-tenths, almost three. It's pretty impressive."

Do you enjoy coming back here to California? "We have a lot of friends that come out and family in town. This is an important race for us. With that being said, it's always important to come to California and run. I'm back in the Toyota camp, they build our engines here in Costa Mesa (Calif.), so we're close to those guys that get down and dig for us. This will be a decent starting spot. We're going to get beat by the sun pretty much and if that wasn't the case I'd say we would have had a real shot at it."
(Motorsport.com)

Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on February 21, 2009 at 8:23am

Starting 11th...

Vickers will have to change engine: Brian Vickers thought he finally had some good news to override the controversy of the past week. The 25-year-old Red Bull Racing driver won the pole for Sunday's Auto Club 500, barely beating heavily favored Jimmie Johnson. But, about an hour after taking the sixth pole of his NASCAR Sprint Cup career with a lap of 183.429 mph, Vickers found out his team would have to change the engine in his No. 83 Toyota, sending him to the back of the 43-car field.(Associated Press)(2-20-2009)

Permalink Reply by alan4s on February 21, 2009 at 8:46am

More like starting 9th, I think. When Vickers drops back the whole inside line moves up, so instead of being inside row 6 (11th) Robby will start inside row 5 (9th). Right?

Permalink Reply by jack on February 21, 2009 at 9:12am

I think this thought is wrong.. Robby starts 12th.. this is on the outside of row six. Vickers will lead the parade laps until just before the green flag, then drop to the back at which time the inside line moves up... This would have Robby still on the outside of row six, therefore no change.

Permalink Reply by alan4s on February 21, 2009 at 9:25am

Jack's right. I stand corrected - Robby is on the outside line to start - duh!

Permalink Reply by jack on February 21, 2009 at 9:28am

Wow! that's something I wish that I heard more often.... lol

Permalink Reply by Beagle7 on February 21, 2009 at 8:28am

Would love a Caution ( not our own!) about 20 laps in then a long green flag run. Assuming were still running inthe top 15, much of the field will get lapped on the following single file restart as JJ, Carl or whoever is leading will catch them quickly... in a perfect world

Permalink Reply by jack on February 21, 2009 at 8:40am

just courious... maybe I'm reading more into it than matters.. During the interview Robby said that they were shooting for a top 10 starting spot and it was "Real Important". then after reading the quote above, Are you pleased with your car? "I was until I saw (Brian) Vickers' lap and I guess I'm not as pleased as I thought we were. He beat us two-tenths, almost three. It's pretty impressive." I wonder if there was something more than just personal goals there, Like maybe Toyota was offering something to those teams that qual in the top ten while at thier so called "home track".

Permalink Reply by al baaske on February 21, 2009 at 10:55am