Posted on 05/28/2005 10:58:33 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Robby Gordon accused Danica Patrick of having an unfair advantage in the Indianapolis 500 and said Saturday he will not compete in the race again unless the field is equalized.
Gordon, a former open-wheel driver now in NASCAR, contends that Patrick is at an advantage over the rest of the competitors because she only weighs 100 pounds. Because all the cars weigh the same, Patrick's is lighter on the race track.
"The lighter the car, the faster it goes," Gordon said. "Do the math. Put her in the car at her weight, then put me or Tony Stewart in the car at 200 pounds and our car is at least 100 pounds heavier.
"I won't race against her until the IRL does something to take that advantage away."
The Indy Racing League does not consider the weight of the driver in its race specifications. The car has to weigh at least 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added, and teams in Indy have estimated that Patrick will gain close to 1 mph in speed because of her small stature.
Although her rivals in Sunday's race have said she doesn't have a huge advantage, pole-sitter Tony Kanaan told reporters he would like the Indy Racing League to look into the issue.
"Right off the bat, a guy my size is spotting her 105 pounds," Gordon said. "That's the reason she's so much faster."
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Exactly. Mr. G. needs to hit the gym. He also needs to dump the 50 pounds of crap out of his whiny attitude.
Hey, if she wins the race, she can buy some hips.
While I agree he's whining, he's got a point.
Apparently very few posters on this thread have ever competed in auto racing. I used to drag race and my car ran very consistant times in the 1/4. When my buddy got in it, it ran consistantly 1.5 tenths faster. I'd get the car into the last few heats, he'd hop in and we'd get into the money. The difference was he was a good 70 pounds lighter. Small change we're talking here, we'd win 50-75 dollars, but it was beer and food money.
I still remember Janet Guthrie...
She makes my teeth sweat.
Myself, I am so tired of the restrictions in racing...
The objective in racing should be to engineer unfair advantages in machine capabilities over other cars and combine it with a human driver who can use it.
I remember the huge whining over turbine engines in Indy racing... Mario Andretti liked the turbine engine idea, but racing has now become so P.C., it makes me sick.
NASCAR sucks too! Too many bitchy losers. Only American cars with tight restrictions on the engines. That is not racing, it is affirmative action for substandard mechanics and drivers.
Sebring 12-hour classic - - now there's a race...
For sure it could make a difference in drag racing, a short event. But this is a race that goes almost 3 hours.
Myself, I am so tired of the restrictions in racing. Other than body type and size, racing should be wide open and unrestricted
The objective in racing should be to engineer unfair advantages in machine capabilities over other cars and combine it with a human driver who can use it.
I remember the huge whining over turbine engines in Indy racing... Mario Andretti liked the turbine engine idea, but racing has now become so P.C., it makes me sick.
NASCAR sucks! Too many bitchy losers. Only American cars with tight restrictions on the engines. That is not racing, it is affirmative action for substandard mechanics and drivers.
Sebring 12-hour classic - - now there's a race...
No, in the very of the general public. Contrary to what you said, the idea of beauty is pretty universal.
When I first heard Patrick was 5'2 and 105 pounds, I didn't think she had the strength to drive 500 miles. Now all I'm hearing is that her size is an advantage. I guess we'll all know by the end of the day.
When I first heard Patrick was 5'2 and 105 pounds, I didn't think she had the strength to drive 500 miles. Now all I'm hearing is that her size is an advantage. I guess we'll all know by the end of the day.
How has racing become PC?
DBR
When you return from the race, you've gotta read this. Sheesh!
I read that this morning too and was just composing my WHAT A DORK YOU ARE letter to Robbie Gordon. He has always been one of my favorite drives - having some expertise in road course racing (which is my favorite).
Why doesn't he:
1. Lose weight
2. Complain about the other drivers that don't weigh 200#s
3. Shut up, you little dork.
That's my thoughts so far - - - ..
Diplomatic. I like it.
So the advantage is compounded over time.
Would it be fair for her to haul 90 extra pounds of fuel? That'd be what, 11-12 gallons? I don't know how many gallons per lap they use, but having one or more laps per fuel stop certainly would make a difference over 500 miles. Not sure what goes first though, tires or fuel. I don't watch roundy round. I find it incredibly boring.
So does this mean she'll have to add weight or is the rule just for NASCAR and the 500 is not NASCAR? This is really two questions as I know absolutely nothing about racing.
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