Robby Gordon to Run at Fontana

NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing
Robby Gordon to Run at Fontana
©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
Replaces Franchitti at Hogan
Silly season in full swing at CART, and the appearance of Robby Gordon in Carl Hogan's #9 Reynard/Mercedes-Benz entry at Fontana at the upcoming Marlboro 500 Presented By Toyota is just one sign that things arealready shifting for '98.
Gordon, who has been in discussion for a possible second Kool car in '98, is not necessarily going to be in the Hogancar in '98. The real story is the no-show of Dario Franchitti, who is more or less confirmed to drive for Team Green in a Honda-powered car next season. Franchitti came to CART as a Mercedes protégé, with allegedly afull season of free engines for Hogan. Now, with him moving to Green, Mercedes pretty much deleted Dario fromits history books. CART doesn't even mention Dario's name in the race preview release for Fontana (being sponsoredby Mercedes-Benz as their official car, one can assume the option was to ignore the Dario-issue, or hand back those free company cars).
That should make Patrick Carpentier the Rookie of the Year for '97 without much contest, becauseunless Gualter Salles wins Sunday's race and Patrick doesn't score more than one or two points, he is too far ahead.Dario, who would be more likely to accomplish such a result, won't be in the car on Sunday.
Gordon has a pretty poor reputation among engine manufacturers in the PPG CART World Series, after he openly criticizing Ford last season. It's not surprising, though, to see Mercedes 'tolerate' him, given that they already won the engine manufacturer's title for '98, leaving very little room for Gordon to complain about a lack of engine performance.


		NOW AVAILABLE! — The Official Directory for CART Racing

		Robby Gordon to Run at Fontana ©1997 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Replaces Franchitti at Hogan Silly season in full swing at CART, and the appearance of Robby Gordon in Carl Hogan's #9 Reynard/Mercedes-Benz entry at Fontana at the upcoming Marlboro 500 Presented By Toyota is just one sign that things arealready shifting for '98. Gordon, who has been in discussion for a possible second Kool car in '98, is not necessarily going to be in the Hogancar in '98. The real story is the no-show of Dario Franchitti, who is more or less confirmed to drive for Team Green in a Honda-powered car next season. Franchitti came to CART as a Mercedes protégé, with allegedly afull season of free engines for Hogan. Now, with him moving to Green, Mercedes pretty much deleted Dario fromits history books. CART doesn't even mention Dario's name in the race preview release for Fontana (being sponsoredby Mercedes-Benz as their official car, one can assume the option was to ignore the Dario-issue, or hand back those free company cars). That should make Patrick Carpentier the Rookie of the Year for '97 without much contest, becauseunless Gualter Salles wins Sunday's race and Patrick doesn't score more than one or two points, he is too far ahead.Dario, who would be more likely to accomplish such a result, won't be in the car on Sunday. Gordon has a pretty poor reputation among engine manufacturers in the PPG CART World Series, after he openly criticizing Ford last season. It's not surprising, though, to see Mercedes 'tolerate' him, given that they already won the engine manufacturer's title for '98, leaving very little room for Gordon to complain about a lack of engine performance.