Promblems at Brickyard for Gordon

(Cup Roundup) Radio Report

Robby Gordon looked to have a strong car when he suddenly had to make a pit for overheating problems. Gordon, along with Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt, Jr and others experienced early overheating issues. What looked like a strange series of events, ressembling the Indy "tire issue," one by one cars dove to the pits with water boiling out. After Robby exited the pits trying to stay on the lead lap, his right front tire exploded on the track ending his chances.

Robby Gordon has had a year of "Highs" and "Lows." In fact, Robby Gordon does very well when he's competitive. This year, Robby's has finished no worse than 20th when finishing on the lead lap. The highlight was a runner-up finish at Sears Point. The flip-side is Robby has only finished 4 times on the lead lap this season.

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on July 25, 2010 at 9:12pm

Think the car has anything for Pocono? Maybe enough to make it worth running the entire race?

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Permalink Reply by Bob Sadowski on July 25, 2010 at 9:18pm

You would think this car would run at Pocono as well. Flat and long straights... Maybe, just maybe

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Permalink Reply by fanof7 on July 26, 2010 at 4:00am

Pocono hasn't been good in the recent years, doubt next week will be any different. I think it would be wise for RGM to s&p Pocono, it would be cheaper than tearing up a car like today.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Hoban on July 26, 2010 at 7:28am

Clearly there is much more to NASCAR than I will ever understand. One would think that Robby would be a natural at Pocono given the turns likeness to Michigan, Indy and Milwauke. However, Pocono just hasn't been good to Robby. The good news for us fans is that WG is just arond the corner. Still, I'd rather see Robby run a full Pocono race and beat and bang with Stremme again than S&P. Of course if that was the plan and Robby had something better to do, there will be a good group of qualified drivers at Pocono with the truck race on Saturday.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on July 26, 2010 at 7:52am

I was parked in the infield halfway down the long pond straight one year way back when Robby was with RCR. As I watched his group go down the straight into the tunnel turn Rob dive bombed it and passed all 3 that were in front of him, I could see from this from behind view that he made the pass but was sliding up the exit a bit off center. Then my sight line was cut off. When they came back around he was even bit further behind the three he had out ballsed in the tunnel. Apparently it was too much to handle but it was a friggen great lookin pass that just did not stick. If my foggy memory serves correct when I got home I caught a highlight on Raceline if it was around or some other semi generic. ESPN maybe but they just showed it and made a comment like "that took guts". Back in the day when you could spend because there was something there to spend. Pocono raceway is a great time in the infield anybody close to the place if you are waffling give it a try.

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Permalink Reply by JerseyJeff on July 26, 2010 at 10:05am

That was also when they could shift going into the corners....

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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on July 26, 2010 at 2:07pm

Interesting was the stat on lead lap finishes. RGM has finished on the lead lap 4 times this year and has been inside the Top 20 every time! That says alot! That says if the money was there they could be a very competitive team. What that stat doesn't include is the on track issues. Robby got wrecked on the last lap at Daytona (Top 15 for sure), Atlanta -accident ( Had a Top 20 car), Indy (Tire issue, Top 20 car), California (Mechanical issues, Had a Top 20 car), Darlington -engine failure (Top 15 car). All those races RGM had solid cars. The team seems to be making real fast cars, but needs the money to get over the hump. Hoping RGM finds something soon!

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Permalink Reply by nando on July 26, 2010 at 3:32pm

Can RGM do the Bill Elliott plan? Would it be a better way to attract sponsors?

Run all races averaging a 30th place finish v/s running half of the races averaging a 15th place finish?

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on July 26, 2010 at 3:59pm

Either the tire explosion was do to debris, tire rub or the right front having too much camber. We seen the team in the past run too much camber that caused right front tire problems. If it was a rub, the over the wall guys should have spotted it when he pitted. If the tire was corded, they should have seen that too. I think Gene needs to talk with the over the wall guys that whenever Robby pits and takes no tires, they all go over the wall and check the car.

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Permalink Reply by Dyno_Don on July 27, 2010 at 1:11pm

flat spotted on the way in maybe.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas on July 26, 2010 at 4:00pm

That really wasn't a tire issue at Indy. Came into the pits, had the tires locked and blowing smoke everywhere. Prolly flat-spotted the tires, then he called off the changing of the tires because he was speeding. Then blew the tire off of 2.

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Permalink Reply by Delanie on July 27, 2010 at 11:05pm

They screwed up that track so bad. They need to get rid of the stupid golf course grass on the inside of the turns. First it was the staples in the turf cutting tires, then the huge rumple strips spinning cars out, and this year the overheating.

The most competitive Indy 500s were when they had the flat, paved apron in the turns that could be used for daring passes. It was graduated banking before there was graduated banking.