Gordon and the Indy 500 UPDATE 2: After being announced as the driver for the #31 Cingular Chevy for the 2002 season, Robby Gordon says he may still run the Indy 500 if the right deal can be worked out (and it is with Richard Childress)(Insider Racing News/FSN’s Totally NASCAR)(11-17-2001) UPDATE: Word is that Robby Gordon will be pulling double duty Memorial Day weekend by driving in the Indy 500 and then flying from Indy to Lowe’s Motor Speedway to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 later that day. Gordon, the regular driver of the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet, will have backing from his team owner Richard Childress in more ways than one. It is believed that Childress will be a financial backer of the Indy team Gordon would drive for — Menard Racing. It is also believed that Cingular will come aboard with some level of sponsorship as well. If he does the double duty, Gordon would join Tony Stewart and John Andretti as the only other NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers to do so. Stewart completed the task in 1999 and 2001. Andretti did it in 1994. This would be the third time Gordon will attempt the 1,100-mile marathon. He attempted to do it in 1997, but was stopped by Mother Nature — the Indy race was delayed two days because of rain. Gordon also tried in 2000 but P.J. Jones started the car for Gordon.(NASCAR.com BUZZ)(3-27-2002) UPDATE 2: Cingular Wireless will sponsor both race teams in Robby Gordon’s third attempt at the Indianapolis 500/Coca-Cola 600 “double” May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lowe’s Motor Speedway for car owners Richard Childress and John Menard. Gordon will drive the #31 Menard/Childress/Cingular Wireless Chevrolet-powered Dallara in the Indianapolis 500 and the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the Coca-Cola 600. Gordon had high hopes for the Memorial Day weekend feat in 2000 and 1997 but never enjoyed a true ‘double’ due to weather delays both years. A rain delay in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 caused Gordon to miss the start of the Coca-Cola 600, while rain postponed the 1997 Indianapolis 500 until the following Monday.. Although he has not enjoyed the full ‘double’ experience, Gordon has logged four top-six finishes in seven Indianapolis 500 starts and was leading on the next-to-last lap of the 1999 race before running out of fuel (he finished fourth). This year’s ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ will not be Gordon’s first venture with Menard, either. Menard co-owned Gordon’s 1999 and 2000 Indy 500 teams, as well as his 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team. Team Menard will build and crew the Menard/Childress/Cingular Wireless Dallara/Chevrolet. Gordon is also reuniting with his former crew chief Dave Forbes for the 500-mile race.. Forbes was Gordon’s crew chief during the 1999 CART Series and in the 1999 Indy 500.(RCR PR)(3-28-2002)
