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CONCORD, N.C. - It was an unfulfilling day for Robby Gordon.
When rain delayed the scheduled noon start of the Indianapolis 500 for nearly two hours, it became apparent to the Nextel Cup regular that his only chance to run in both the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race and the most prestigious event in open-wheel racing would be a rainout in Indianapolis.
Facing a 3:45 deadline to leave Indianapolis and fly to Concord, Gordon, who drives the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in Nextel Cup, knew he otherwise had no chance to complete Indy. When the 500 was red-flagged after 27 laps because of heavy rain, Gordon turned his No. 70 Chevrolet over to backup Jaques Lazier and departed at about 3:06. Gordon's chartered helicopter from Concord's regional airport landed inside the racetrack just as the Indy 500 went back to green-flag racing at around 4:40.
The Indy 500 started promisingly enough for Gordon, who made his sixth start. He passed eight cars on the first lap, improving from 18th to 10th. He lost one spot on Lap 2 and fell to 16th after his first pit stop and was in that spot when the red flag waved.
"I guess I'm the only person in Indianapolis who was hoping for rain," said Gordon, whose best Indy finish was fourth in 1999, when he led late but ran out of fuel.
Gordon left Indianapolis expecting the race to be red-flagged until today, then was booed during driver introductions.
"We said all along that the first priority was racing the (No. 31) in the Coca-Cola 600 and so there was never any question (Sunday) morning that I would have to leave and was ready to get out of the (Indy) car," he said. "That's definitely not what I wanted to do, but it was the situation we faced. (Lazier) was spotting for me in Turn 1 and then he came down to the pits and had his uniform on and was ready when the race was stopped."
Lazier retired from the race with a broken right halfshaft after exiting the pits after 88 laps and was credited with 29th place. NASCAR race director David Hoots jokingly called "driver of the 31?" in the typical random roll call in the drivers meeting at 3:30, knowing Gordon was en route. Though NASCAR was aware of what Gordon was trying to accomplish, he had to start at the back of the field for the 600 anyway because he missed the meeting.
"If he's here, that helicopter is a lot faster than it was this morning," he said.
WHAT GIVES?: Jeff Gordon finished 30th, seven laps down, a baffling run considering Hendrick Racing teammate Jimmie Johnson won in overpowering fashion and another teammate, Brian Vickers, was 15th. Gordon was never a factor in an ill-handling car.
"If (Johnson) won with that setup, he deserves a gold star,'' Gordon said. "We don't normally have the same setups, but I want to go back and compare to see if we can figure out where we were off and where we were at that looks like it makes sense.''
STILL CONFIDENT: Mark Martin, whose last win came in the 2002 Coca-Cola 600, was in the top 10 in the No.?6 Ford on Lap 200 when an ignition box failed, sidelining him for 22 laps. He finished 36th, 13 laps down, but remained optimistic, saying he stands behind comments he made last week predicting a successful summer.
ENDURANCE TEST: Running 600 miles is tough on engine parts, but it's not easy on drivers, either, especially considering the heat in excess of 130 degrees in the cars. Running the first 160 laps under green and therefore virtually wide open, made things even tougher. About 190 laps in, Matt Kenseth, known as one of Nextel Cup's most fit drivers, radioed to crew chief Robbie Reiser to have medication for muscle cramps ready on his next pit stop.
YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY: Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 49 Dodge, turned 49 Saturday and was treated to a large celebration by his sponsor before the race. So how does it feel to turn the same age as your race car number?
"Makes me glad I'm not driving the 99, I guess," Schrader quipped.
SPARK PLUGS: In addition to Gordon, Scott Wimmer, Sterling Marlin, Ward Burton (engine changes) and Brendan Gaughan (backup car) had to start at the back. ... Bobby Hamilton Jr., driving the No. 09 Dodge, went to the garage for repairs after 24 laps but returned on Lap 29. ... A catch-can mistake prevented Ryan Newman's crew from loading enough fuel into the No. 12 Dodge during a scheduled pit stop on Lap 61, forcing him to stop again for more fuel 20 laps later. He gave up a top-five spot and went a lap down.