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Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 11:26:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Todd Burnworth
Subject: How do you get around CART's 13.3 rule?
Robby,
I've been a fan of yours since before you came to CART IndyCars in
1993. I've met your Mom and Sister on different occasions at both
Indianapolis and Michigan and I'm looking forward to attending enough
CART races in 1999 that maybe I'll actually get to meet you in person!
My question is, the rumor going around is that you and Menard have a
deal for you to drive one of his cars at the Indianapolis 500 and he
will be an associate sponsor for your Team Gordon CART entry in the
Midwest races.
If there is any truth to this rumor, how do you work around CART's
13.3 rule? Do you have lawyers working on this now? If you are at
Indy, I'll be there on my way back from the Gateway, but only for you
because of my dislike for the IRL!
Godspeed
Tj Burnworth
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As you probably know by now, we will be running at Indy. My sponsors require
it and you know how I feel about the 500. Rule 13.3 is not to be unreasonably
withheld and we do not anticipate a problem as both Walker and Galles fielded
entries in 1996.
Thanks for your support.
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Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 17:33:34 -0500
From: Dale W Silver
Subject: Comment
To: robby@speedcenter.com
Robby,
Congratulations for putting together a program for this year; I hope you do
well. A rousing Bronx cheer to all those "fans" who said they would support
you whatever you do EXCEPT race in the IRL. I hope you did not listen to them.
I'll be glad to see you back at Indy.
A better example of where NOT to have raced this year would seem to me to be
NASCAR. My impression is that NASCAR is completely a finesse game, like no
other type of racing, and that a hard-charging driving style like yours goes
unrewarded, whereas in Indy cars (even on ovals) you can better show your
stuff. Any comments? Thank you and good luck this year.
Dale Silver
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As you know, I love to race. I try not to side with any one Series, that's
why I have raced them all. We all understand the politics of racing, however
my mission is to not let that interfere with the future of Team Gordon.
Sponsorship money really will dictate where we race more than anything else.
We are merely extensions of our sponsors. I know that you understand that.
Thanks for your support.
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Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 19:25:37 -0500
From: Lynn Stewart
Robby--what will it take for your team to compete with the
more-established teams for
wins and the championship
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What will it take for our team to compete with the best in the CART series? I
believe we showed this weekend that we are in the game. We qualified 18th but
only .7 off pole. Desire and determination along with continued strong
sponsorship funding will allow our young team to make headway in this ultra
competitive series.
We've got great people and that is certainly more than half the battle.
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Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 09:46:33 -0500
From: "Andrew C. Fogiel"
Dear Robby,
I am very glad (and relieved!) to see Team Gordon come together. I also
want to express my appreciation to you and those involved with
maintaining this site, I really enjoy the perspective you provide fans.
Not sure how to put this in a "question", but I would like your input on
the role of engineering in CART racing and whether or not CART ought to
try and promote itself based on its high tech nature.
I cannot help but feel engineering students could learn a ton by
observing what goes on in CART, and if they had the chance to
participate to some limited degree, wow! For example, I had to build
and use environmental monitoring systems for my research which I started
in 1995. I all became a CART fan that year. In 1996, Comptech Racing
let me follow along during a practice session some of the evaluation
process using feedback from data and driver. How that experience
impacted the way I conducted my research is a technical paper in itself.
I read that high school students from a physics class were present
during a Laguna test session last month. That is an example of how I
see CART promoting itself at academic institutions. But I see a larger
potential by structuring something for college courses, like combining
interactive software, laboratory exercises, and field trips (testing
sessions or races) that allow students to study aerodynamics, fluid
dynamics, instrumentation development, data management, based on what
goes on CART. Anything beyond the confines of textbooks and idealized
laboratory settings would spark students who too often could care less
about what they are being taught because it seems so stale and boring.
Couple education with vehicles that go over 200 mph could really grab
their attention!
I would appreciate some of your thoughts on what you perceive as the
important aspects the engineer plays in CART, as well as any other
series or forms of racing you have participated in. Do you see any
potential to get CART into the classrooms of America's universities? If
so, who at CART should I talk to because I definitely have some ideas
and expertise on how that could be done?
Thanks man, and best wishes for you and your team in pursuit of the 1999
PPG Cup. See you at Nazareth, the U.S. 500, and hopefully a few more
races!
Andy Fogiel
Michigan State University
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Our website at teamgordon.com is great. I even tune in to see what Kinnon,
Lesley and Laz have come up with. For our team and for the future, Mike and I
believe that information should be available rapidly. People want it now and
we are no different. We are trying our best.
My partner Mike Held is an engineering graduate from the University of Akron
where he did co-op work to earn his way through school. We are big proponents
of this system and are looking to put a program together to allow for this
sort of involvement with our team.
With the series as competitive as it is, engineering practices and procedures
will dictate the teams that run at the front. Keep up your interest, it will
land you some work. Send off your ideas, we'd love to see them.
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From: "Patrick Moore"
Subject: patience
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 10:09:30 -0500
Hi, Robby! I first want to wish you and your team the best of luck in '99. I
think what you are doing is as good for the sport as it is exciting for the fans.
You mentioned patience as an aspect which you have been getting better at exhibiting.
Do you think that this new-found patience will carry over to the track? Again, best of
luck this season!
Patrick
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Patience my ass.... Just kidding. Roles change, people change not always
because of desire but because of necessity. With some things I'm still short
in this area. But I have a very strong network of great people: John Menard,
Mike Held, Dan Miller, Laurie Gerrish and Dave Forbes for example. These guys
are great. They are seasoned, mature and patient yet at the same time vicious
competitors. Remember, you are who you "hang with". The key is to surround
yourself with people as strong or stronger than yourself.
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Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 18:02:03 -0500
From: Mike Almert
Subject: 1999
wishing you the best this season -I saw your comment about the Autoweek
predictions--just wanted to let you know I chose you as one of my 4 drivers
in afriendly season-long pool I'm in with some friends.. I'll be at
Homestead and the Midwest races this year to see your team in action.
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It's going to be a learning year for us, but don't count us out. Thanks for
the consideration and sorry about Homestead. We get em at Motegi.
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From: chris lorenz
Subject: engine question
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:25:06 -0600
Robby
I was wondering why do teams decided to us an experimental power plant? do
they get the engine at a special price? It seems it would be hard to get
sponsors for a team that is running an unproven engine. how do you sell
your teams to prospective sponsors when they know you don't have the most
competitive package? I have noticed that the Toyota has made good power and
reliability improvements over the winter. I also wanted to say I liked the
article about you starting up your own team, I by myself run 2 formula vees
and one formula ford in the scca and that is hard enough but is light years
away from running a cart team. it must be a great accomplishment feeling
when you had your first test with the new team.
good luck
Chris Lorenz
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Rome wasn't built in a day. Someone could have the same opinion about Robby
Gordon couldn't they? Programs come together on preceived expectations. We
know the commitment of Toyota. It is no different than the commitment of
Robby Gordon.
I know that you can appreciate all the hard work we have done to assemble Team
Gordon. Remember, it's not all me. And while I'm a large part of it, without
Mike, John, Hiro, all the guys at Toyota, we would not be in business today.
It is that simple. It is a team not a one man show.
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From: "Remo"
Subject: pressure
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 15:41:29 -0500
Mr. Gordon, do you feel less mental pressure now that you own the car that you drive,
as opposed to driving a car owned by someone else?
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Pressure. There is always alot of pressure. I'd be lying to you if I told
you there was less pressure driving for someone else. However, when the
helmet goes on, it's a race to the finish. That part hasn't changed one bit.
Drive it like you stole it!
Robby
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"What will it take for our team to compete with the best in the CART series? I
believe we showed this weekend that we are in the game. We qualified 18th but
only .7 off pole."
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