Race Reports
Verizon Wireless No. 55 Chicago Post Race
By
Jul 14, 2007, 19:50

Robby Gordon

No. 55 Verizon Wireless

Post Race Report

Joliet, IL (July 14, 2007) – Robby Gordon was the 31st driver to qualify for Saturday’s USG Durock 300.  With a limited 2007 NASCAR Busch Series schedule underway for Gordon and his team, it was a go or go home qualifying attempt for the No. 55 Verizon Wireless Ford Fusion. His first lap of 30.650-seconds (176.183 mph) was good enough for an 16^th place start in Saturday afternoon’s race.

Soon after the green flag for the 200-lap race waved at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday, Gordon told crew chief, Gene Nead that his Verizon Wireless Ford Fusion was too tight. Nead and the team stayed out when the first caution flew early, hoping that the car would come to them, throughout the race.

The entire field cycled through green flag pit stops, Gordon included. Fighting his car early, Gordon went a lap down and hoped to help his car on this first pit stop with major adjustments and four tires. Unfortunately, the adjustments weren’t enough. The No. 55 was just too tight to drive.

Another caution flag came at Lap 79, which brought Gordon to pit road. Still fighting his tight race car, the No. 55 team tried again to help Gordon and make his car more driveable.

During the third caution of the day, Gordon’s car still too tight and more adjustments were made in order to make the No. 55 better. The Verizon Wireless Ford Fusion remained ill-handling for the duration of the 300 miles race.

“The whole team worked on the car throughout the race, from shock adjustments, to air pressure and wedge. Nothing helped the handling though. Hopefully we learned a little bit today and can apply it to the cup car tomorrow,” Gordon said.

Despite the car’s handling, Gordon continued to be patient with the track, his car, and his team. At the end checkered flag, Gordon crossed the stripe in 34th place. Gordon and the No. 55 Verizon Wireless team will next see Busch series action next month at the road course at Watkins Glen, where Gordon finished second last year.