Gordon: Ambrose could win in first Cup start
SCENEDAILY - 4:57PM ET WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8, 2007 - BY JEFF GLUCK - ASSOCIATE EDITOR
CHARLOTTE - Just for fun, Robby Gordon and Marcos Ambrose were supposed to hang out in the Charlotte area on Wednesday, maybe head out to Lake Norman for a good time.
Ambrose, the likeable Busch Series rookie from Australia, had made an impression on Gordon, so the veteran driver offered to take the Charlotte newcomer out on the town.
But that was before Gordon wrecked Ambrose in Saturday's Busch race in Montreal, spoiling the Aussie's chances at a first Cup victory.
So when Ambrose's phone rang on Monday evening - Ambrose answered because he didn't recognize the number - the voice on the other end said, "Does this mean we're not getting together Wednesday?"
The two cleared the air, and three hours later, Gordon called again. He had just read an e-mail from a fan - one of 24,000 positive e-mails he said flooded the Robby Gordon Motorsports in-box - that suggested Gordon field a car for Ambrose this weekend at Watkins Glen as a gesture of goodwill.
After getting sponsor approval from Jim Beam and Camping World, Gordon literally put the wheels in motion. Ambrose agreed to accept Gordon's olive branch offer to drive a second RGM Cup car and will attempt to make his Nextel Cup debut at the Glen.
"It's a real thrill for me," a grinning Ambrose said during Wednesday afternoon's news conference at RGM. "I appreciate Robby coming to me with this gesture. It's part apology and part compliment, as far as I'm concerned."
Gordon said he and Ambrose and will drive identical equipment this weekend, the same caliber of car that claimed a front-row starting spot at the Sonoma road-course race in June.
"He's going to have all the tools to win," said Gordon, who was suspended for last week's Cup race after he failed to obey NASCAR's instructions at Montreal. "... When I say win, I know you guys probably roll your eyes and say, 'What do you mean, win?' There's no doubt in my mind that this guy can come out here and easily run in the top 10.
"And in Nextel Cup racing, if you run in the top 10, the door is gonna be open because things are gonna happen. And if you put yourself in position, he might just find himself in victory lane in his first race."
Ambrose, who has only been in a car of tomorrow one time during a test for his Wood Brothers/JTG Racing team and has never visited Watkins Glen, will have to qualify based on speed.
His Busch crew will pit the car and crew chief Ernie Cope will call the shots atop the pit box. Those people, Gordon said, also had to be willing to accept his "make-good offer."
What Ambrose termed as "a nasty situation" has turned positive for both drivers and their teams.
"I think it's a big thing for him to ring me up on Monday and give me this opportunity," Ambrose said, then laughed. "I hope we don't run 1-2 with five laps to go - it could get a bit interesting."
Gordon: Ambrose could win in first Cup start