Here we go again...RGM to switch manufactures?

Hoping this is just a knee jerk reaction and not and actual negotiation process. Hearing RGM is in discussions with Red Bull Racing & MWR about the possibility of switching to Toyota, but will wait until he tests Dodge's new engine package and sits down with GEM.

RGM has been fighting poor fuel mileage and lack of horsepower all year with the engines they receive from GEM. Dodge has their new 2009 engine coming soon and Gordon might wait and see if this cures his problems. The GEM engines have been very reliable with only one engine related problem in Cup due to a wiring problem and one overheating issue this past weekend in the Nationwide series.

As for the possibility of switching to Toyota:

Red Bull has shown alot of progress in only it's 2nd year in Cup racing. Brian Vickers is currently 17th in the standings, while teammate AJ Allmendinger has climbed back into the Top 35 the hard way.

MWR has faired alot better it's 2nd year in Cup by keeping the #55 and #44 inside the Top 35, the #00 recently fell outside the Top 35 and driver Michael McDowell has been replaced by driver Mike Skinner at Michigan to evalute the team.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on August 16, 2008 at 8:12am

RG is the poster boy for SCORE and has been quoted several times giving high praise to CORR. So, what excactly do you expect him to start?

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Permalink Reply by FlyHiFlyLo on August 16, 2008 at 12:36pm

He buys score.

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Permalink Reply by DB on August 12, 2008 at 4:56pm

He can change manufactures every year, or stay with one for five, don't matter- what needs to happen, and probably won't- RG needs to hire someone to tell him to shut his mouth, and just drive- ala AJ Foyt- new spotter for the #7, just get him a nice, fresh John Deere, he'll do it- no disrespect to the current spotter, no one should have to endure a beating like that

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Permalink Reply by RobGordonFan/Kim on August 12, 2008 at 10:53pm

I'd sure like to hear what you are talking about - the communciation during the race. Seems like there are several comments in a number of threads here on the Planet that make reference to how bad RG was on the scanner Sunday. Does anyone have the scanner replay to post on here?

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on August 13, 2008 at 11:15am

I don't have a scanner replay to post, but I do subscribe to Trackpass and listen during the race. I know Walter seems to be very organized and seems to have a plan for what Robby reports.

I also have noticed in the last several races, Robby's car is fast in practice. The problem is the car is junk on raceday. Robby has been very upset the last 3-4 races. He comes over the radio whithin about 2-3 laps, "We're too loose! I can barely drive this thing! I'm almost wrecking in every turn! I'm getting killed on the straightaways! This car is absolutely awful!" and other comments. You can hear the frustration in his voice, with a tone that screams "It's awful again!"

At Watkins Glen he went down in turn 1 and seemed to have got together with somebody. I saw his car bounce off somebody. He fell back about 6-7 spots and then came over the radio, "We're running hot! The water temp is running hot!" He backed way down. Walter replied, "Back it down and get some clean air. What's the temperature reading? Is any water spewing out?" Then Robby replies, "D@&*$#, I looked at the wrong guage, the water temp is fine.@*$#%!"

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on August 16, 2008 at 1:38pm

Went back and looked at footage from the Watkins Glen race (thanks to DVR!) anyway, Robby dove under about 5 cars and then bounced hard off of Paul Menard in turn 1 on the first lap. He dropped to the rear of the field around 40th. The next lap Robby reported he was running hot. He backed down to 42nd. A lap later he said everything was fine he just red teh guage wrong. He climbed back up a few spots. He really never did much after that. It looke dlike he was just cruisng until they pulled their "race strategy" and went a lpa down. After that he was a lap down until about 19 to go. Afther the wreck, he gained about 9 spots. On the restart he passed 2 cars but then was passed back by 1. On the last lap he spun Jeff Gordon ( see Jeff's interview here: http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&nam...)

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Permalink Reply by DB on August 16, 2008 at 4:45pm

thanks for posting that zoom, I was wondering if Robby got him, running right there with Jeffy and menard, but no one said much, thanks

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Permalink Reply by roush699 on August 13, 2008 at 12:31pm

Do you think he would hire me? I would be happy to tell him to shut his mouth and drive.

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Permalink Reply by Jared Quigg on August 17, 2008 at 5:33pm

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Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on August 17, 2008 at 6:01pm

What do you think they'd get better fuel milage if they were burnin rice, instead of Sunoco?

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Permalink Reply by Hank Lee on August 17, 2008 at 6:37pm

Fuel mileage is the least of their worries right now.

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Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on August 17, 2008 at 11:02pm

So you wanna bet your money on Toyota? Cool, but know that either way the rest of this season is testing for '09. Now if we switch to sushi bros., so is the first half of '09. Toyota's already topped out on power. I'd stick it out with Dodge. They got a new motor comin out that (when all the bugs are worked out) may be just as good, or better than Wasabi. JGR/HOF, MWR, Red Bull, & BDR already have senoirity with TRD over Rob, if he jumped over there now. He's a single car team, so they'd prolly get the same shit as BDR. Somebody tell me how that would help? Oh,& when you do, don't forget we'd be starting all over again, with those notes Walter DOES take.