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R. Gordon Says He Didn't Mean to Disrespect Patrick
aolnews ^ | 6 1 05 | JENNA FRYER

Posted on 06/01/2005 10:18:58 AM PDT by freepatriot32

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 31) - Robby Gordon was not being critical of Danica Patrick when he said she had an unfair weight advantage in the Indianapolis 500. Rather, he said he was simply discussing a flaw in the Indy Racing League's rules.

"The only thing I was saying was that I have a problem with the rule, not any particular driver," Gordon said Tuesday. "I've been impressed with Danica from the first time she got in an IRL car earlier this year, and I certainly did not mean to disrespect her or any other driver."

Patrick wowed the racing world by becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Indianapolis history with a fourth-place finish on Sunday.

Gordon stated the day before the race that because Patrick weighs just 100 pounds, her car is lighter than everyone else in the field. Unlike other series, the IRL does not include a driver when setting its weight limit.

In NASCAR, where Gordon currently competes, the minimum weight requirement includes the driver.

But in the IRL, a car must weigh 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added. A smaller driver would have at least a slight edge over heavier ones because of the rule.

"This rule has been around for years, and it's something that Paul Tracy and I have talked about for a long time," said Gordon, who weighs nearly 200 pounds.

Gordon's comments actually echoed those of several drivers in Indianapolis who complained that Patrick had an advantage.

"It makes a big difference," race-winner Dan Wheldon said Tuesday. "If it didn't in qualifying, you wouldn't worry about the fuel. We try to make it basically run out during qualifying, and that's what a difference of six or seven pounds makes. I definitely think it's an advantage and I'm pretty sure in due time you'll have a rule change on that."

Sam Hornish Jr., who weighs roughly 60 pounds more than Patrick, said two days before the race that the size difference gave her an edge.

"That's got to be worth something," Hornish told the Toledo Blade. "Whether you calculate speed or fuel economy, that little difference is a factor."

Hornish's bosses at Penske Racing even figured out the mathematical advantage Patrick had.

"That's probably worth something like 0.8 of a mile an hour," team president Tim Cindric said.

Gordon, who didn't run in the Indy 500 this season for the first time in 10 years, said he was trying to make the same point.

Instead, his comments were interpreted by many as Gordon being critical of Patrick. He stressed Tuesday that was never his intent.

"Indy is one of the toughest races in the world to finish, let alone win, and the fact that she ran up front for most of the 200 laps proved her ability to drive," he said. "Given that she is so young, I would be amazed if she didn't win at least one Indy 500.

"Had she won, it would have done more for the IRL and the Indy 500 than could ever be imagined. As one who loves that race as much or more than any other, it would have been great to see because it would have been huge for the IRL."

IRL officials have said they are not considering changing the weight requirements.

Wheldon said the rules have forced the IRL regulars to be as light as possible.

"A lot of us have changed our training regimen for that," he said. "I'm not lifting as much weight as I used to, and I'm running like a son of a gun."


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 20somethinglist; 20somethingslist; danica; didnt; disrespect; gordon; he; indy500; mean; nascar; patrick; r; says; to
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To: freepatriot32

Somebody needs to tell the yutzes at AP that "disrespect" is a noun, not a verb.


61 posted on 06/01/2005 11:03:43 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: NHAntiMassRedRebel; SmithL; Popman; econ_grad; Brilliant; 1FASTGLOCK45; Panerai; Arkie2; ...

update ping


62 posted on 06/01/2005 11:04:12 AM PDT by freepatriot32 (www.lp.org)
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To: freepatriot32

Too late....


63 posted on 06/01/2005 11:07:46 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher (Jun 01, 1861, The first skirmish of the Civil War took place at the Fairfax Court House in VA)
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To: Oberon
Somebody needs to tell the yutzes at AP that "disrespect" is a noun, not a verb.

I dare you to walk down into compton and tell them that "to diss" is not a proper verb, but is rather a noun.

64 posted on 06/01/2005 11:07:50 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: maggiefluffs

I can see the "rock" from here!

WOW!


65 posted on 06/01/2005 11:10:09 AM PDT by Dashing Dasher (Jun 01, 1861, The first skirmish of the Civil War took place at the Fairfax Court House in VA)
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To: Rodney King


66 posted on 06/01/2005 11:10:36 AM PDT by freepatriot32 (www.lp.org)
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To: Rodney King

That is particularly humorous from someone with your screenname.


67 posted on 06/01/2005 11:12:08 AM PDT by ctlpdad (Liberals - weeds in the lawn of society.)
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To: Rodney King
I dare you to walk down into compton and tell them that "to diss" is not a proper verb, but is rather a noun.

The difference between Compton and AP is that the Associated Press is a large, significant, and formerly well-respected publishing house, and Compton is the native territory for speakers of Ebonics.

Both have standards, but they should differ.

68 posted on 06/01/2005 11:13:05 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Oberon

Oh I know, I was just kidding with you.


69 posted on 06/01/2005 11:14:39 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: Rodney King
Oh I know, I was just kidding with you.

It would make for an interesting video, wouldn't it..."White Guy Corrects Grammar in Compton."

70 posted on 06/01/2005 11:17:34 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
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To: Oberon
It would make for an interesting video, wouldn't it..."White Guy Corrects Grammar in Compton."

LOL. That's a great idea.

71 posted on 06/01/2005 11:19:01 AM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: Oberon
It would make for an interesting video, wouldn't it..."White Guy Corrects Grammar in Compton."

That would have great crossover potiential it could start off as "White Guy Corrects Grammar in Compton." and it could then cross over to hbos Autopsy :-)

72 posted on 06/01/2005 11:26:37 AM PDT by freepatriot32 (www.lp.org)
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To: Rodney King
[ I dare you to walk down into compton and tell them that "to diss" is not a proper verb, but is rather a noun. ]

True, to do that would cause an uproar like a troop of chimps throwing branches and making all mannar of chimplike noises.. I can hear it now.... Pretty funny really.. Would be the same thing in Chicago, Detroit, Harlem.. or most any JAIL.. or prison..

73 posted on 06/01/2005 11:59:21 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been ok'ed by me to included some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: freepatriot32

It's good thing he corrected himself because his first comments sounded like sour grapes.


74 posted on 06/01/2005 12:17:43 PM PDT by GVnana
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To: Rodney King
"I don't care for Robby Gordon, but he's right. A lighter driver has an advantage."

"How big of an advantage can it be?"

Over 500 miles...

If the winner averaged 220 mph and the 2nd place car averaged 219.99, the 2nd place car would be 120 feet behind.

A car going 220 mph covers 323 feet per second.

So .01 mph makes a difference.
75 posted on 06/01/2005 12:25:08 PM PDT by ryan71 (Speak softly and carry a BIG STICK)
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To: ryan71
So .01 mph makes a difference.

Sure, but the fact that all of the drivers are not little elves like jockeys are would suggest that the difference is small compared to a number of other variables that determine what is or is not a good driver.

76 posted on 06/01/2005 12:31:08 PM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: freepatriot32
"It makes a big difference," race-winner Dan Wheldon said Tuesday. "If it didn't in qualifying, you wouldn't worry about the fuel. We try to make it basically run out during qualifying, and that's what a difference of six or seven pounds makes. I definitely think it's an advantage and I'm pretty sure in due time you'll have a rule change on that."

Of course it makes a big difference. Those that would dispute this just don't know what they are talking about.

77 posted on 06/01/2005 12:31:18 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: Petronski

A. J. Foyt was never thin but he won many times.


78 posted on 06/01/2005 12:32:48 PM PDT by bmwcyle (Washington DC RINO Hunting Guide)
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To: bmwcyle

A.J.Foyt was skilled.


79 posted on 06/01/2005 12:33:53 PM PDT by Petronski (A champion of dance, my moves will put you in a trance, and I never leave the disco alone.)
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To: Black Tooth
Of course it makes a big difference. Those that would dispute this just don't know what they are talking about.

Then why do you think it is that the horse racing "market" had taken this into account by shrinking the size of jockeys, yet IRL racing has not? Is it just a market imperfection that is only being addressed now? If it's such a big difference, then I am surprised that IRL drivers haven't become small over the years.

80 posted on 06/01/2005 12:34:19 PM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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