Hearing that NASCAR will suspend #7-Robby Gordon from Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono for his actions in Saturday’s Busch race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For more info on his actions in the race, see my Busch Series page. P.J. Jones practiced the #7 Saturday at Pocono and would be the likely substitute driver.(8-4-2007)
UPDATE: NASCAR is still evaluating whether Robby Gordon will be allowed to compete in the Pennsylvania 500 on Sunday at Pocono Raceway after not following NASCAR orders as well as getting into the back of race leader Marcos Ambrose on a green-white-checkered restart Saturday in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal. “It’s fair to say we’re still evaluating [his status for] tomorrow’s race,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said Saturday night. “We’re still talking about what’s going to take place in Pocono. At this point, it’s too early to tell.”(SceneDaily.com)(8-4-2007)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR issued a statement Saturday evening about the incident during the Busch race from Ramsey Poston, NASCAR Managing Director of Corporate Communications: “Once the caution came out on Lap 72 the field was frozen. Once the field is frozen, all cars must maintain cautious pace in order to be scored. At the time that the field was frozen, the #59 was in the lead. The #55 did not maintain cautious pace and by NASCAR rule, cars not maintaining cautious pace are scored only when they blend back into the continuous line. The 55 based on our scoring was ordered to blend back in behind the #33 in front of the #7. The tower ordered the #55 multiple times to get in to position. The directive was acknowledged by the crew chief of the #55 and the crew chief also communicated the order to the driver of the #55. The driver ignored NASCARs directive. He was warned that he would be black flagged if he did not comply. Once the #55 crossed the start-finish line he was posted per the NASCAR rule book and at that time the directive to display the black flag was given. After contact with the 5#9 on Lap 73, NASCAR took emergency action per the rule book Section12-2 thus parking the #55, which was also ignored. The black flag with the white cross was displayed to the #55 when it crossed the start-finish line on lap 74. The #55 finished the race in the 18th position.(NASCAR PR)(8-4-2007)
UPDATE 3: Robby Gordon’s antics at Saturday’s Busch race in Montreal will have him parked for Sunday’s Nextel Cup race at Pocono, Pa. Gene Nead, Gordon’s crew chief, has confirmed that Gordon will not be allowed to race in Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500. P.J. Jones, who practiced in the car Saturday while Gordon was in Montreal, will run the #7 Ford in the race.(ESPN.com)(8-5-2007)
UPDATE 4: NASCAR has parked Robby Gordon and he will not be allowed to compete in Sunday’s race. Furthermore, Gordon is not being allowed into the garage at Pocono. Additional penalties and/or fines are expected to be announced on Tuesday.(8-5-2007)
UPDATE 5: As a result of his actions on the race track at Saturdays Busch Series race at Montreal, NASCAR has parked driver Robby Gordon for todays Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Referencing Section 12-2 of the 2007 NASCAR rule book if the act or omission of a member is determined by a NASCAR official to constitute a threat to the orderly conduct of the event, NASCAR may take emergency action against that member That action includes parking a driver for an event. Parking is final, non-appealable and non-reviewable. Towards the end of Saturdays race at Montreal, Robby Gordon demonstrated blatant disrespect and disregard for NASCAR directives on multiple occasions. His actions were certainly disruptive to the orderly conduct of the event. NASCAR will continue to review this situation and address any further actions at the beginning of this week. P.J. Jones will be driving the #7 car today he practiced in it here on Saturday. Since he did not qualify the car, he will start the race at the end of the line.(NASCAR PR).(8-5-2007)
