IndyCar

IRL: IMS-first entry in 97-04-02

For Immediate Release TEAM SABCO NAMES GORDON TO DRIVE FIRST "500" ENTRIES INDIANAPOLIS, April 1, 1997 -- Veteran Robby Gordon was named as driver of the first entries to be filed for the 81st running of the Indianapolis 500, it ...

Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:47 AM

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For Immediate Release

TEAM SABCO NAMES GORDON TO DRIVE FIRST "500" ENTRIES

INDIANAPOLIS, April 1, 1997 -- Veteran Robby Gordon was named as driver of the first entries to be filed for the 81st running of the Indianapolis 500, it was announced today by Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials.

Team Sabco, a nine-year NASCAR Winston Cup team headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., entered a pair of G Force chassis powered by Oldsmobile Aurora engines for Gordon in its first-ever effort at the auto racing classic, scheduled for May 25.

Coors Light is listed as the sponsor and Dave Forbes is the chief mechanic on both cars.

Gordon, 28, formerly of Orange, Calif., and now residing in Cornelius, N.C., has competed in three Indianapolis 500s and led two of them.

He started 25th in 1993 in an A.J. Foyt Enterprises entry and led two laps before bowing out with gearbox problems. He finished fifth in both 1994 and 1995 and led a lap in the later year while completing the full distance.

Gordon was entered by Walker Racing for the Indy Racing League's season closer last September at Las Vegas and led four times for 60 laps before finishing 14th, sidelined by a wheel bearing problem. He has two victories in Indianapolis-style cars, those coming at Phoenix and Detroit in 1995.

Gordon began his career in motocross at the age of nine and won his first-ever off-road race at the age of 16, beating his father, Bob, in the Nevada 500. He moved to road racing in 1990 in the International Motor Sports Association GTO class and teamed with Lyn St. James and Calvin Fish to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. In 1991, he won the 24 Hours with Wally Dallenbach Jr., and Mark Martin as co-drivers and repeated at Sebring with Max Jones.

Team Sabco named Gordon to drive its stock cars on the Winston Cup trail this season and he captured the pole position at Atlanta. The team has had a number of drivers in its cars since joining the stock-car ranks in 1988, including Kyle Petty, Bobby Hillin Jr., Kenny Wallace, Bobby Hamilton and 1996 IRL co-champion Scott Sharp.

The Speedway opens Saturday, May 3 with the 500 Festival "Start Your Engines" opening-day celebration and the beginning of the United States Auto Club's 17th annual Rookie Orientation Program, which continues through May 5. The track is open to all drivers starting May 7. Time trials for the 33 spots in the starting lineup will be held May 10-11 and May 17-18.

The race, with all reserved seats sold out, is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, televised live by ABC Sports and aired around the world on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.

..97IMS-03..

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