Cingular
Wireless Racing
Weekly Racing Journal
Race/Date:
NAPA Auto
Parts 500/Oct. 27, 2002
Location:
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Start Position:
20th (starting field set based on owner points after
rain cancelled
qualifying)
Finish Position:
20th
Points Position:
20th
Race Recap:
Last year, officials at Atlanta Motor Speedway
re-scheduled Sunday’s NAPA 500 from the final race of the season
in order to avoid the usually rainy weekends in November. October
is supposed to be the driest month of the year in Atlanta but Sunday
proved to be nothing but a rain-filled ending to a wet weekend.
The inclement weather hurt Robby Gordon and the
No. 31 Cingular Wireless team both during qualifying and the race.
Team Cingular was very strong in Friday’s practice session but rain
forced the cancellation of qualifying and the starting field was
set based on owners’ points.
Rain began falling as the race kicked off Sunday afternoon but conditions
were good enough to continue racing. Gordon moved into the 15th
position by lap 12, although the car’s handling was tight. The Cingular
team pitted on lap 21 for two tires, fuel and chassis adjustments
to loosen up the car. Quick work in the pits gained Gordon three
spots and returned him to racing in the 12th position. But the rain
soon was too heavy and NASCAR displayed the red flag after 26 completed
laps.
Almost two hours and 20 minutes later, the track
was dry enough to resume racing, although a light sprinkle continued
to fall. That light sprinkle remained the entire race — each and
every lap. Gordon soon moved into the 10th position but the Cingular
Wireless car got too loose and he fell to the 18th position by lap
85. Team Cingular pitted on lap 90 under green for four tires,
chassis adjustments and fuel. Those changes helped a bit but since
the sun had set and the teams were essentially competing in a night
race, Gordon continued to struggle with the set-up. Team Cingular
made chassis adjustments during the next couple of pit stops but
really hit on something during a pit stop on lap 234. Gordon soon
radioed in that the Cingular Wireless Chevrolet was much better
and he began passing cars. Gordon’s lap times were among the fastest
on the track. But the rain got much heavier around lap 243 and NASCAR
called the race after the completion of 248 laps. Gordon crossed
the finish line in the 20th position.
Robby Gordon Quotes:
"The Cingular Wireless team just can’t catch
a break lately. We were good in qualifying trim but didn’t get the
chance to qualify. Then we weren’t very good in the beginning of
the race but Kevin Hamlin and the guys worked hard on the car and
got it much better. We really dialed it in on the last stop and
started posting lap times as good as the leaders. But the rain just
wouldn’t cut us a break. We really didn’t want to see the race end
early because we had something for the competition there. We had
a top-five car when it was all said and done. But now we need to
go into these last three races and do our best to pick up some spots
in the points and hopefully take the Cingular car to Victory Lane."
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