Robbie Gordon of NASCAR Will Not Drive IRL Races Against Danica Patrick, Citing Weight Advantage

National Review Magazine: The Corner ^ | 6/1/05 | KJ Lopez

[gopwinsin04]

Robbie Gordon of NASCAR started the discussion, saying that he wouldn't drive in the Indy Car Racing League series until they do something about Danica Patrick's weight 'advantage.'

'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 cars are at least 100 pounds heavier.'

'I wont race against her until the IRL does something to take that advantage away.'

I glanced at the weight of the weight of the drivers in the Indy Car Series. They are pretty much smallish guys --between 140 and 155 lbs.

He seems to be willing to race against guys who are about 60 pounds less and had no problem with it before.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Oh please.. this was never an issue before Danica blew the socks off those guys. They are embarrassing themselves. If they persist with this line they will be responsible for opening a big can of worms. There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages running amok in racing. and this is by far the pettiest of them all.

[FFIGHTER]

NASCAR incorporates the weight of the driver into the weight equation, IRL does not. Depending upon the weight differential it can be 10ths of a mile per hour faster, which in theorgy could be the difference. Similar weight requirements are also utilized in horse racing as well; where smaller jockeys and larger horses must carry additional weight.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Here is a photo I took Sunday! Enjoy!

[gymbeau]

Yeah. I was really PO'd with the media coverage. Nothing against Danica, who did a great job on Sunday despite a couple of major rookie errors, but the ABC coverage was as if it were the Danica 500 - and oh by the way there are 32 other people on the track too.

My local rag, the Calgary Herald, had a big picture of Danica on page one, and it took till the fourth paragraph for them to say who had won the race.

Disgusting.

On the other hand, I wish the IRL would go away and CART would regain its luster. I've been a Champ car fan for as long as I can remember and really miss the days when it was the best series; I loved the fact that the CART drivers had to handle small ovals, big ovals, road courses, street circuits, etc. To me, that made them the best drivers.

I'll have to look into that when I'm Emperor.... :-)

Cheers
Jim

[Miss Behave]

"This whole conversation is about Danica's weight is silly."

Almost as silly as Robbie's Man Meow. :-)

[Miss Behave]

I be enjoyin', Diva. How great was that to be there this year?

[Miss Behave]

Emperor. LOL. I like that. Cheers to you, Jim. :-)

[Miss Behave]

Kim DEFINATELY has her weights on. :-)

And I see that I'm being a thread hog. I'll go now. Sorry, guys. Have a good one.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I have been to 25 (I think?) Indy 500 races and many other IRL and open wheel races- I have been to sprint racing and other types of racing.... and I been to the Indianapolis Speedway almost every year of my life for different periods of time in May.

I remember watching Janet Guthrie on carb day when I was too young to go to a race. I have seen all of the gals race at Indy. I have watched AJfoyt, Rick Mears and the Unser family. I have watched some good races.

I have not seen the most racing out of everyone around BUT I have seen my fair share and IMO - This was a GREAT race.

IT was good to be there! Have you ever been? Too bad you weren't there! You would have loved it!

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

[MikefromOhio]

thats cool...

more for me....

[Kokojmudd]

Yeah. The Danica coverage was overkill..I was impressed with her driving ability but there was also a very likable and classy winner in Dan Wheldon. The Andretti story also got completely overshadowed by the Danikamania. I think part of the problem was the lousy ABC announcer. Paul Page would have been much better.

BTW, I used to love CART back in the day. I don't know if CART (or whatever it is called today) still races in Toronto but that was a wickedly fast street course.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL!!!

thats great!!

I guess then, you are a prude....

[MikefromOhio]

SHAME!!!!

Let's stone her!! She's too sexy!!!!!! LOL!!!!!

[Steve_Seattle]

"Paul Page would have been much better."

Amen to that. The coverage was bad. Despite all the Danica hype, they actually missed her first leading lap, the first ever by a woman at Indy. And then they cut away from the race on the last lap - for pit interviews - and almost missed the finish! Paul Page with David Hobbs, Bobby Unser, Bob Varsha, Danny Sullivan, or - can't believe I'm saying this - Gary Gerould - anybody!

[yellowdoghunter]

I guess then, you are a prude....

I've been called worse.....I can handle it. Have a great day!

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

hey just so you know, I an organizing a stoning of any good looking chick I see....want to join??? LOL

[gopwinsin04]

I am equally offended by all of the Danica Sports Illustrated style swimsuit shots and need more evidence to decide exactly what gradation of offense I will decide on...lol!

[gopwinsin04]

Aren't the Indy drivers thin already? Helio 'Spiderman' Castroneves can't weight over a buck 50 or 60.

[Steve_Seattle]

"On the other hand, I wish the IRL would go away and CART would regain its luster."

The IRL seems to have the financial upper hand now, so most of the burden to fix this is on George. The Danica phenomenon will hopefully be a catalyst for them to work out their differences. For the first time in years, there was some buzz at Indy that arguably overshadowed NASCAR. Cart/IRL momentarily have the momentum, and need to take advantage of it ASAP.