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CART: Team Gordon Portland Review

20 June 1999

Robby Gordon
#22 Johns Manville/Panasonic/Menards Toyota-Swift
Race Notes/Quotes – Sunday, June 20, 1999
Budweiser/ GI Joe's 200
Round 9 of 20 in the CART FedEx Championship Series
At Portland International Raceway – Portland, Ore.

After going a lap down early as a result of a spin in Turn One, Robby
Gordon fought all day to finish 17th, on the lead lap, in Sunday's
Budweiser GI Joe's 200 in Portland, Ore.  Gordon's Johns
Manville/Panasonic/Menards Toyota/Swift was loose throughout the day,
especially as the stints wore on, making it difficult to overtake under
braking. Team Gordon continues on the FedEx Championship trail next
weekend in Cleveland, Ohio, with the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland.

Quotes

ROBBY GORDON – "Whoa.  That was way too tough a race to finish 17th. I
feel like I've been through a war.  Basically, we were loose all day.  I
couldn't race anyone into the corners without taking myself out.  I spun
in (Turn) One early and that sent us back enough to eventually go a lap
down.  We managed to get the lap back and keep it for good, but this
series is too tight to try and win from that far behind. The guys in
front just "check out" if you let them out of your sight.  I'm
depressed, but I know this is what I signed up for. Nothing's easy -
we'll keep at it, though, and we'll be in Cleveland working to race up
front."

MIKE HELD (co-owner) – "Tough day at the office.  It was a hard-fought
run that ended up 17th, on the lead lap.  Unfortunately, 16 cars ahead
of us had a hard fought run, as well.  Hey, it was a good character
builder if it couldn't be a points scorer.  Someday we'll be better for
keeping the nose to the grindstone and plowing forward."