It looks as though Robby Gordon is in his waning days with Walker Racing. He has a mere 14 points for the first 9 races and Derrick is none too happy with Robby's performance this year. The Silly Season Begins
Rumors Abound
By Jim DeFord©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
The most likely place for Robby to land a ride for 1997 is with Team Green, who looks to be running a two-car team next year with reportedly big-time money coming via the new KOOL cigarette sponsorship.
In addition, Team Green has also has talks with several other drivers; Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Scott Pruett and Al Unser, Jr., but those drivers are already (apparently) locked-in to their current teams.
Even though there have been talks with Gordon, Barry Green says that nothing has been decided as of yet.
"There were some good rumors going around Portland," said Green, grinning. "First, let me say that I'm very excited about the huge budget we seem to have for next year - we could be running as many as six cars..."
"KOOL is going to have an American driver; that's been the case since Day One. Robby, Michael (Andretti), Jimmy Vasser, Scott Pruett and Al Unser, Jr. all interest me greatly and I've been bending all their ears, but Robby seems to be the most available at this point. Still, we're a LONG way from coming to a final decision on anyone."
But, maybe we will see Robby in a NASCAR ride next year, taking John Andretti's place on the Kranefuss/Haas team.
Brahma has been highly disappointed with Raul Boesel's performance and Philip Morris USA is not at all happy with Philip Morris Latin America's presence on Emerson Fittipaldi's Penske ride, so there may be a move in the works there.
It is also common knowledge that Emmo is very unhappy with the entire Penske organization and will making a complete split from Penske and Carl Hogan after this season.
Scott Pruett looks like he might be driving with the yellow Pennzoil livery on his Patrick Racing car in 1997 as the contract with Hall racing expires at the end of 1996. The current sponsorship deal that Pennzoil has with Patrick Racing is through 1997 as is Hall's contract with de Ferran.
This could close Hall Racing's doors after the 1996 season and open the doors for de Ferran to go to Formula 1...OR maybe a second car and driver for Patrick Racing?
With the recent rift between Paul Tracy and Al Unser Jr. it looks as though Tracy will be hunting for a ride in 1997 and rumors at Portland suggest that Penske is also interested in de Ferran.
So there you have it. The start of the infamous silly season. It only gets more confusing from here on out....
