No recourse for the antics, Robby ... but I understand
He flagrantly violated the rules, drove recklessly and then proceeded to claim victory. Yet I'm going to walk out on that limb and stand up for him ... well, sort of.
In defense of Robby Gordon, I'm going to paraphrase comedian Chris Rock. Basically, I'm not saying he should have done it ... but I understand.
Beau Estes co-hosts the Jack Daniel's Post-Race Show with Nikki Alexander. It can be seen following every Nextel Cup race live on NASCAR.COM.
Mike Helton was as right as Pat Robertson when he said, "The end result is NASCAR has got to maintain law and order." There is no questioning that concept and Robby Gordon was wrong for turning the final laps of the Busch Series race in Montreal into an expo of sheer madness and chaos ... but still, I understand.
Marcos Ambrose has every right to be as mad as a hatter and in fact he might be headed in that direction. "I'll be in therapy for two years," said the man who came from half a world away for this type of competition.
Had NASCAR actually enforced its ruling and physically moved him (which would have been interesting to see) back to 13th, Gordon wouldn't have been in position to maniacally turn the Aussie Ambrose into a Vegemite sandwich -- spinning him off the lead with two laps to go. Gordon was wrong and later admitted it ... but in the heat of the moment, I understand.
Finally, Gordon was way out of bounds for disobeying the direct order of the NASCAR officials who told him to move back to the 13th position. No matter how ridiculous the ruling may have seemed (and at the time the ruling appeared about as awful an idea as an all-male wait staff at a Hooters restaurant) Gordon races in the world of NASCAR and if drivers don't obey NASCAR's rules then we might as well shut the thing down ... still though, Robby, I understand.
Before I explain my position on this let me first say that I indeed did watch the race live and was as shocked and confused as everyone else. In fact, immediately following the post-race interviews I started dialing my NASCAR cohorts. I recounted the events to the Jack Daniel's Post Race Show's producer, Deaton Bell, and asked him to make sure I wasn't overreacting. Let's just say that Deaton had a harder stance on the issue than I did. There was no doubt in his mind that Gordon should and would be parked and in the end he was proven right. (read more)
Immediately after the ruling came down that sat Gordon for the race in Pocono I started receiving e-mails from outraged fans. That trend hasn't stopped even as I write these words. Therefore, what I have tried to do is look at the events from Gordon's perspective. The following is what I've come up with:
First of all though, let's not deny that Gordon is one of the most accomplished drivers in American motorsports. Anybody who has won in the Nextel Cup Series, led until the last lap of the Indy 500 and in 2005 became the first American to win a stage in the Dakar Rally has some driving chops. Still, in NASCAR he is perhaps a bit of an outsider at this point. He races in the Nextel Cup circuit with his own one-car team which is an uphill struggle for anyone and can perhaps (I'm speculating here -- and trying to understand) create an "us against the world" mentality.
So with that in mind, imagine that you are Robby Gordon and you've finally caught the fastest car on the track in Marcos Ambrose and taken the lead by any means necessary. Moments later Ambrose spins you out -- you're furious, but Ambrose is gone and you have no recourse ... no, wait a minute, behind you a caution has occurred and you've been given new lifeBlogged with Flock
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