NASCAR/INDYCAR: Robby Gordon signs with Team Sabco

• Jack Durbin
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Mon Aug 19 22:48:41 EDT 1996

Felix Sabates annonced today that IndyCar driver Robby Gordon will be
the driver of the #42 Coors Pontiac for the 1997 season.

"This is a very big day in the history of Team SABCO," Sabates said.    
"It seems strange for us to be heading into the forthcoming racing      
season with a new driver for the first time in nine years. However, the 
time has come and this certainly marks the beginning of a new chapter   
for Robby Gordon and Team SABCO.                                        

"We feel very fortunate and honored to have Robby join this team.
He certainly topped a huge list of qualified drivers from the very
beginning. Every candidate received careful consideration. However,
we were struck when we looked at Robby's list of accomplishments when
compared to his age.

"Robby Gordon has been a winner in just about every type of race car
he's driven," Sabates added. "With time, it's natural to assume he'll do
the same in Winston Cup. He's proven he can muscle a 3,400-pound stock
car around a big, high-banked speedway. So you can bet we're going to
exhaust every option possible in turning him into a champion in the
number-one racing series in America. We're proud to say Robby Gordon is
a now member of Team SABCO."

"This is the culmination of what I've been preparing for over the last
10 years," Gordon said. "To be offered a ride of this caliber just adds 
to the excitement of the entire process. Of course, I have some mighty  
large shoes to fill with Kyle (Petty) moving on to other things. I've   
already begun the process of moving to the Charlotte area and plan to   
work closely with the guys at theshop to prepare as best I can for the  
1997 season. 

"The NASCAR Winston Cup Series is one of the most challenging,
competitive and popular series in America -- and possibly the world. And
I respect all the other drivers who've taken other roads to achieve this
plateau, and I'll certainly continue to display this respect when we
hit the track in February. Many of us have used different means to get
here, but I think this is where my true racing talents will ultimately
surface.

"Driving NASCAR is where I want to be and I can thank Felix Sabates and 
the entire team for giving me this opportunity. It may take some seat 
time to get me up to full speed, but we've discussed that issue and 
have developed a performance time line' to bring me along that we're 
all comfortable with. Success may not happen overnight, but as long as 
we're making progress, we'll all be content with the program. 

"I'm also very proud about having the Coors Brewing Company as my 1997
sponsor. They have a lot of innovative marketing ideas and are not 
afraid to implement some off-the-wall strategies. That's kind of the 
way I am willing to try out new things and help sell product. I thank 
them for placing their confidence in me to perform well and hopefully 
I'll be able to score a lot of up-front finishes for them." 

The last time Gordon raced in Winston Cup he finishedin the top five in 
the #28 Robert Yates car less than a week after the death of Davey 
Allison.

Jack Durbin                                   indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us
Motorsport News International                      jackd@motorsport.com
(Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info")
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