Robby Gordon appeal successful, team still hosed

When NASCAR issues a penalty, their decree could be scribed in stone. The chance of a team being able to successfully appeal a NASCAR penalty is almost non-existent. It just does not happen. Robby Gordon knows this all too well. His list of past NASCAR-ruled indiscretions is long and distinguished (Daytona 2005, New Hampshire 2005, Montreal 2007, et al). His most recent clash with the NASCAR-rule gestapo took place after a practice session for the Daytona 500. A tech inspection found an non-approved bumper cover on Gordon's car. The penalties were stiff:

1. Loss of 100 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Car Owner Points for car owner Robby Gordon.
   


2. Loss of 100 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Driver Points for driver Robby Gordon.
   


3. $100,000.00 fine; suspension from NASCAR for the next six (6) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Events; suspension from NASCAR until April 9, 2008, and probation until December 31, 2008 for crew chief, Frank Kerr.

This all seemed well and good, until Gordon appealed, citing the fact that the bumper cover in question came right from the manufacturer and its use on Gordon's car amounted to nothing more than a clerical error by the manufacturer. Jim Beam stood behind Gordon, like any good liqour company would.

Well, the appeal decision came down yesterday and NASCAR caved. Sort of. Unwilling to admit fault, the National Stock Car Racing Commission gave Gordon his points back and reversed the suspension of crew chief Frank Kerr. However, the fine was upped from $100,000 to $150,000. Think about this for minute... It is like buying a hooker, screwing her in the back seat of your El Camino, punching her in the throat, apologizing, then making her buy dinner (for those not down with metaphor/hypothetical scenarios, Gordon's team is the hooker). Here is Gordon's response to the penalty pseudo-repeal.

Right on, Robby. We'll call it a victory too. Maybe.

The genius that is Panther Racing's Q and A...Part II

And the hits keep coming... Yesterday, Panther Racing laid claim to another big time NASCAR star.

Q. Kevin Harvick was recently quoted as being interested in racing an IndyCar. The NASCAR team he and his wife own is sponsored by Camping World, a sponsor you are familiar with. There is no NASCAR race that weekend. How about seeing if he would be interested in running the Glen?

A. (3-4-08) Kevin Harvick has been closer to making a start in the IndyCar Series than most fans will ever realize. I mean real close. Harvick isn't joking when he says he's interested in driving in our series, and it's probably only a matter of time before it happens. It might not happen in Watkins Glen 2008, but you've outlined the type of scenario it would take to make it happen. Let's just hope he doesn't have a conflict this time.

We honestly don't know whether to classify these as truth, pipe dreams or downright fabrications, but they are awesome in their ridiculousness. We will continue to print them until otherwise.

Allmendinger, rideless.

A.J. is out, and wants to spoon with Mike Skinner (can you blame him?).

Responding to news that he will be parked by Red Bull Racing in favor of stockcar-vet and good ole' boy Mike Skinner starting this weekend in Atlanta, Allmendinger expressed remorse, then showed his undying man-love for Skinner:

“Let’s not kid ourselves; I’m a racer and I want to be racing, but I get the big picture here and obviously we need to improve our program. Do I want to be out of the car? No. But, I know Skinner can help both me and my team. All I can say is he better be prepared for me to eat, drink, and sleep with him."

There is no timeline for Allmendinger's return to the seat. Quite frankly we don't care. This was clearly just an excuse to show another awesome A.J. with a fade picture. Damn it, Allmendinger, bring it back!

The genius that is Panther Racing's Q and A

In the span of one Q and A session (2-28-08) on PantherRacing.com the following gems were tossed out for consumption:

-In no particular order of preposterousness-

The team has a standing offer to Dale Earnhardt Jr. for him to run a car in the Indy 500.

If you don't like the coverage (or lack thereof) the team gets in the local media, feel free to email the Indy Star's Curt Cavin @ curt.cavin@indystar.com to voice complaints.

And finally, in response to the obligatory Paul Tracy is now available question: "you never know what could happen."

February 28th kind of covered a lot of bases.

Allmendinger, rideless?

Let the "A.J. Allmendinger makes a triumphant return to a unified open wheel series" rumors begin. According to a sentence in the Indy Star, Allmendinger could be parked by Red Bull Racing after going 0-fer in making the first three Sprint Cup events of the year. Maybe A.J. should try to hook up with his former karting boss Paul Tracy to start their own IRL program. But only if A.J. brings back his fade-cut.

Varsha gets lost

Don't get us wrong here, Ridebuyer loves Bob Varsha. His F1 play-by-play is truly something to behold. His motorsports knowledge is vast and his enthusiasm for the sport shows through. Which is why this clip is all the more awesome. Things start to go wrong for Varshy at the 1:03 mark.

Bourdais states the obvious; Andretti calls Tracy old

American open-wheel ex-pat Sebastien Bourdais points out that the transition for former Champ Car teams to the newly merged IRL Indy Car series will be difficult.


“We had all been waiting for it for a long time, but obviously didn’t expect it 30 days before the start of a season,” he declared. “It’s not a merger, it’s the death of Champ Car and the IRL taking over—the schedules, cars, everything. It’s the cars (the IRL teams) have been running around with for five years, so what are the Champ Car teams going to be able to do? Nothing.
“They had no time to prepare over the winter, because the winter is over. It’s a disaster for Champ Car teams, obviously.”

Stop the presses, Sebastien. You mean this was not the most equitable of deals for Champ Car teams? That is like saying Scuderia Toro Rosso will not be the class of F1 this year.

-Also-

Michael Andretti manages to toss a few barbs at former-rival (and now ride less, Paul Tracy). Upon hearing the news that Tracy's Champ Car ride has hit the bricks, Andretti says he knew it all along:

"I wasn't surprised," Andretti said. "I assumed that (Forsythe not
fielding an IRL team) was going to happen. It was just a gut feel. He's a proud man. There has to be a reason he was doing the things he was doing (in Champ Car), and I just didn't see him caving in to come over here."

Andretti also quickly discarded the thought that Tracy may windup in a race seat with Andretti-Green.

"Paul is great and all, but he doesn't have any experience in these cars and he's getting a little old," Andretti said."We're looking at 19- and 20-year olds, and he's almost 40..."

Andretti twists the knife one last time by saying Tracy would be a great fit with Tony George's habitually mediocre Vision Racing. Wherever Tracy winds up, he will be in the IRL this season, and will be waiting for Andretti in the parking lot after the Homestead race. Ding...round one.