When Robby Gordon Almost Won Indy

Perhaps we'd view Robby Gordon's career in a different light had he won.
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Race Footage Credits:
BW Racing
Ryan Holman
Charles Intestine
Dave W
RSimms
Thumbnail Image Credits:
Getty Images

[@Austin_Windric]

Fun fact: Austin Cindric and Robby Gordon are the only two X-Game medalists with a NASCAR Cup Series win. They also just so happen to be two of my all-time favorite motorsports drivers.

[@briangriffinfamilyguyfan81]

Robby still has more wins as does Derrike Cope

[@RazorSharp75426]

When did Robby Gordon get his X-Games medal?

[@tikibarberfan4]

Sheldon Creed next 🤞

[@whizkidbricks9740]

I’m a cindric diehard as well.

[@bonvct]

Loved RG! His road course wins in that gorgeous #31 are some of my favorite NASCAR races

[@davidcopeland5450]

Fun fact: Robby Gordon’s Indy 500 car from 1999 is on display at the Petersen in Los Angeles. Beautiful car to see in person!

[@davidpeters2625]

Yes, aside from all of the NASCAR hodgepodge, Robby Gordon was an amazing talent, that is so outrageously criminal, and he never got the credit that he DESERVED, as a CART/IRL driver

[@Cynon]

That race *really* hurt as a 10 year old Robby fan. Robby started as one of Ford's development drivers, his assignment at Ganassi was controversial because it meant Luyendyk didn't get a full season run in 1992. His debut at Foyt (3rd at Surfers in 1993) was extremely impressive.

[@vercingetorix444]

I love Robby Gordon. He was/is such a huge talent, but almost as importantly, he was the funniest and most entertaining guy on the track. Peak NASCAR era was when he was turning laps.

[@spiderbhyd3]

Robby Gordon: the man who was never at fault for any crash But in all seriousness he’s actually pretty underrated, ignoring his shenanigans in nascar he was a pretty good driver

[@lonewolf2513]

Man. His shenanigans were either foolish or side splitting. No in between

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

@@lonewolf2513 He was his own worst enemy.

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

Heartbreak. To be that close to winning one of the biggest races in all of Motorsports and then to come up short because of fuel is an absolute gut punch.

[@jameswormsley460]

🙈🙈🙈

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

If you want to learn about one that possibly hurt more, read about Jim Clark's drive in the 1967 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. He had to pit for a cut tire (when F1 cars only pitted if they had problems; the cars carried enough fuel to run the full distance), lost a lap, got the lap back, and eventually took the lead - only to run out of fuel coming up to the checkered flag.

[@nelsonschumacher7956]

sorry, but if he didn't have enough fuel to make it, then he didn't get close at all he rolled the dice, he lost . . . that is pretty much the whole story :)

[@kevinramsey417]

Robby deserved to win that one. That one was on his team.

[@Secretarian]

Nah, Gordon himself said that the fuel meter was still showing fuel at the moment he ran out. The technology failed them.

[@jamesb_53]

Robby Gordon will always be my all time favorite. Versatile, entertaining, raw talent, passionate…. everything many fans claim to want then get upset when they see.

[@RichardCheezman]

I met Robby at the Indycar race in Nashville last year, I asked him about some of his shenanigans like when he threw rollbar padding out the window in a NASCAR race, but then he brought up this race and said if only he could’ve had a yellow so he could top off, I feel bad because I didn’t know much of his Indycar career since I was born around the time he switched to NASCAR, but it does seem like he still wishes he could’ve had enough to make it

[@austinemms9772]

Robby Gordon was the definition of good tv.

[@RichardCheezman]

You ever seen a Stadium Super Trucks race? It’s just pure entertainment, and Robby owns the series, I saw the Stadium Super Trucks race on the Nashville street circuit last year and Bo Lemastus alone made it worth the price of admission.

[@2jsalomon]

ill never forget when he said "ah shit!" live on tv... Back in 19:99, that was a huge deal to cuss on live tv lol. I was 9 years old and was utterly shocked lol. i was also very sad that he lost :/ it crushed me

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

Two things: that Valvoline livery on Robby's car when he ran with Walker Racing was just sweet! And the stock-block motors the IRL ran in its early days just don't sound right for an open-wheel car.

[@DGeorge819]

One of the best talents to hold a steering wheel in our generation when you consider his success in pretty much all the disciplines he raced. Not a lot of people can do what he's done.

[@patrickanderson9023]

Juan Montoya?

[@DennyDeliversYT]

2:04 little did we know… Robby Gordon pulled a Ricky Bobby before the movie was even thought of lol

[@karlrovey]

Of course he was actually on fire.

[@cito1101]

3:49 back when the IndyCar cars sounded like NASCAR stock cars

[@speedwayanywhere6845]

Oh how I Love how Robby was able to sqeeze in the S Bomb on so many live broadcasts. Gotta love him :P

[@dickdeeb6018]

He would have kicked stewarts ass you could see how scared stewart was hahaha

[@bigdave46148]

My best memory of Robby Gordon was the year he was driving in the Brickyard 400 and was complaining about not having any power. Car owner, Felix Sabates got on the radio and chewed out Robby's for about three laps. All Robby could say after that was "you know what I'm saying is true. about three weeks later, he was out of the ride.

[@dallisb1047]

About the only"hot headed" driver I ever liked. His passion for racing is undeniable.

[@andybmx28]

I love Robby, one of the nicest drivers I have ever met.

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

He was one of the first drivers from whom I got an autograph.

[@jamesb_53]

I was 11 the first time I met him and he is 100% the nicest dude you’d ever want to meet.

[@nascarman7325]

Another great video! Never knew robby attempted the indy 500. Learn something new every day!

[@Denverbroncos87]

Wow… he attempted many..

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

Yeah, he attempted so many Indy 500’s…

[@nascarman7325]

@@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT I don't pay much attention to indycar and f1, mainly nascar

[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

@@nascarman7325 it’s all good lol. Just messing with ya with satire

[@xtlm]

Pretty sure he did the double several times actually.

[@xz5685]

I can’t imagine how awful that must have been to have water hot enough to burn through a fire suit in the cockpit. Truly horrific

[@bullainsworth3130]

Robby Gordon in my opinion is one of the best all around racers ever. To be able to rise to the pinnacle of multiple racing disciplines, adapt to the different tracks, and the driving characteristics of the cars isn’t easy! Just ask Jimmie Johnson! Robby is a very gifted driver! I’d love to see him in a WRC rally car!

[@Denverbroncos87]

I have 97 and 98 on tape. Vhs tape. Plus 99, 2000, 2002 and 2006. 1999, my dad taped for me. I remember he had the lead, and tried to stretch the fuel but had to pit. That cost him the win. You forget, Greg ray wanted to return to the track but because the damage wasn’t fully fixed , he wasn’t allowed to come back on track. So ray had to retire

[@jasonmoyer]

I honestly forget that Gordon raced stock cars, because I always think of him driving for Roush in IMSA and Walker in CART.

[@LucasOliveira-tt2ll]

that Valvoline car was one sexy machine, one of my favorite liveries after the Player's and the Kool ones

[@lonewolf2513]

The show he puts on with the super trucks is cant miss racing

[@philipkalin1928]

Love the Indycar 2005 game soundtrack in the back. Great video as allways!

[@Earthshaker513]

I remember watching as a kid (I think I was 7 at the time) and being so disappointed that he couldn't get the win. To be so close to victory, only to have it slip through your fingers must be absolutely gutting.

[@bryanrodriguez7636]

Facts: The Fire Robby Gordon Sustained In The 97 Indy 500 Actually Ended His Chances For Getting Rookie Of The Year In The Winston Cup Series That Year (He Was Driving In Felix Sabate's 40 Car That Season) , It Will Take 4 More Years For Him To Race Full-Time In 2000 In A Car Sponsored By Menards (As His Car Was A Parthership Between Him And John Menard)

[@EmptyCheetosBag]

Capitalizing Every First Letter Doesn’t Make You Look Smart, Stop Doing It For Fucks Sake

[@ARM317]

Good video! I forgot he came close a couple times at the 500. The year he caught on fire, I think he was the fastest car prior to the fire.

[@walkerking3875]

Great video. Good job on editing and production quality with the audio

[@siteofalexa]

Wow I didn’t even notice this thank you Darian

[@TaterChip91]

I forgot about that little scuffle with Stewart 🤣🤣

[@TheFoyer13]

I used to watch Robby at midohio as a teenager, I loved the valvoline livery. Almost 30 years later as an adult I'm seeing him 20feet in the air in a supertruck at midohio. Lol...

[@scottmiller1531]

Robby was his own worst enemy. In the early 90's, Ford was grooming "The Gordons", Robby and Jeff. Jeff ditched Ford, in part because Roush was unwilling to bring crew chief Ray Evernham into the team as well.. Robby's connection got him the '92 ride as a part-timer with Ganassi. Ford facilitated the Foyt ride in '93 by getting AJ the powerful Cosworh XB. After promising seasons in '94 and '95, '96 was trying as now Honda had the power advantage. Thins came to a head at Elkhart Lake when Gordon intentionally blew his engine by riding the rev-limiter in first gear and basically admitting to it, as he trashed Ford engines. It's all on camera and Bob Varsha commented that he just burned a huge bridge. Amazingly enough, teams were hesitant to hire him after this, so he spent much of the rest of his career as his own car owner. His brother in-law had better success at Indy, as his sister married Ryan Hunter-Reay.

[@RobJaskula]

He looked like such a baby whining in an interview during that race, too

[@maestro4287]

Excellent video!

[@parsonly72]

Good job darian you actually spelled it right unlike on discord 😂

[@jaroslawfuchs5114]

Alex Rossi to Gordon: hold my beer dude, gonna show you smth=)

[@matthewmcsweeney5996]

John Menard would finally win the Indy 500 in 2019 with Simon Pagenaud when he drove a Menard sponsored car for Penske.

[@dethkillerspiral]

david land was right these cars really do sounds like the nextgen car lolol

[@TanDawg58]

Robby never was one of my favorite drivers, but I will admit, he got screwed on a few different occasions. This one, Watkins Glen in 02, Montreal in 2007. I will admit though, I was pulling for him at Sonoma when Ambrose Done F'd Up in 2010.

[@tonyatwell1478]

This was my 2nd 500 and we were shocked when he pulled in.

[@braedonshelton2305]

I never Knew he was that close! Such a bummer. He had personality, which we miss in NASCAR now a days.

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Robby Gordon Was Good IndyCar Driver From The Early 90s ☺😎 Thanks For Uploading

[@chriszasada9756]

Watched that race and his crew screwed him over so bad. He had it won, but because the crew screwed up the fuel mileage, he had to come in on the last lap or so and lost it

[@kenzschueler]

I'm not a Robby Gordon fan, but my God, that guy was a Wheelman

[@xtlm]

Still is! Ever watch the truck series he created? It's...wild.

[@kenzschueler]

@@xtlm I've never watched it personally. I know Dale Jr had him on his podcast , and was super intrigued by it. I used a past tense with Robby. Lol, that guy cab flat out drive in general

[@xtlm]

@@kenzschueler It's a wild series, just search for "Stadium Super Trucks" they have all the races on their youtube channel. Gordon won the last race I think at Long Beach

[@kenzschueler]

@@xtlm I'm going to look into it. Thank you ! I do miss his personality

[@jtshaneyfelt5894]

I was monitoring Gordon on my scanner at Indy in '95. Before the caution, his lap times were better than anyone else, on pace to win if not for the caution with 10 to go and his call with a lap to green that he thought his tire was going down. But his run was largely overlooked by the press because the big news was Scott Goodyear jumping the restart and getting black flagged...

[@jinglebell61]

Future uploads: Not A Bust: Trevor Bayne and Bad Seasons: Bill Elliott 1991.

[@TERMINATE7]

Can you please do a Gone to Soon episode on Nicky Hayden the 2006 MOTOGP world champion?

[@ciccone39]

Paul Tracy 2002 should be your next Indy 500 episode.

[@briangriffinfamilyguyfan81]

We need more Robby Gordon videos Darian

[@speedspeed121]

Growing up in Anaheim, I knew a few of Robby's acquaintances and associates. The common theme was that Robby was his own worst enemy.

[@penskepc2374]

The IRL was filled with nobodies at this point, even in interviews you could tell a lot of these guys had no business at the brickyard.

[@robertmusgrave9236]

However as long as he had nascar coming to his track he kept running the IRL.

[@byEFox]

i will always support Robby! I recommend trying his Speed Energy drink

[@rontribbey9038]

For me it was the most exciting Indy 500 ever, thanks Robby.

[@frevazz3364]

His team really screwed up the fuel situation. He had plenty of time to save some fuel and the team really failed that one.

[@christophersterner3651]

Robbie Gordon is a very underrated race car driver

[@sametozkan9175]

He should have won it.

[@jawnhansen235]

A real life Ricky Bobby

[@walkerking3875]

You the man, Robby Gordon

[@avalon1rae]

Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart would be a great fight to finish. I love Robby Gordon and Robby Moroso.

[@NASCARFAN93100]

That one was painful

[@user-ui5cr2yh6q]

First Starts: Carl Long 2000 (Winston Cup)

[@Secretarian]

I watched that race and cheered for Robby in the closing laps. He was a talented anti-hero type that was good for the sport. I wished that he had stayed in IndyCar instead of going to Nascar, but economics dictate a lot in the world of racing.

[@RavTheQueen]

Damn that one hurts

[@g_men2121]

Sucks he finished 4th. Should’ve got a little more fuel on that last caution

[@PeterMayer]

Greg Ray... Soon went into the where are they now file...

[@scottmcdonald399]

Robby Gordon is a badass!

[@kg0173]

He won Dakar rally in 2012.

[@rontribbey9038]

I will always wish he had stayed in Indy cars, I believe he would have been Champion.

[@andcho13]

Well this gave Sweden the first and so far the only Indy 500. And that gave way for us to have two swedes in the Indycar series right now.

[@94nolo]

Robby Gordon's a nut dude

[@johnvandeventer8668]

He was born in my area

[@JuanGSR]

I had never heard about this, all I knew about Robby Gordon was the NASCAR related scandals.

[@wingracer1614]

Oh there is SO much more than that. Even his baja racing is full of insane adventures

[@trevorarens7143]

They should have told him to settle down. Man, I hate it for Robby to have lost this race.

[@NawnyaBusinaz]

2 gallons left and still ran out. That’s the curse of Team Menard.

[@V10ViperSRT]

Curse broken in 2019?

[@NawnyaBusinaz]

@@V10ViperSRT not quite. You could argue it was broken in 2011 with Paul Menard but that was NASCAR. ‘19 was team Penske.

[@V10ViperSRT]

@@NawnyaBusinaz Just having fun with it. John Menard doesn't have his own team anymore but still puts lots of money in motorsports. Paul's win wasn't a John Menard team car either but a Richard Childress car.

[@Ryan.Ryan.4]

Ah shit indeed 😂😂😂

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Didn't Robby attempt the double that year (1999) too? Or am I getting he and someone else mixed up? Either way. Robby was a fantastic talent, picked by Michael Kranefuss, he was a raw talent and in 93 he had good runs. 94 he had good runs. 95 he won twice. Phoenix, he swept past Andretti when, ironically, pit issues hampered Mikey, and Detroit he lat out dominated. If he hadn't pitted at Indy, well... 97 was heartbreaking, 99 was somehow worse really...but that goes to show Indy, you have to go out there and earn it. Looking at you, Helio 2021 and that finish. Also, somehow, the late, great Jenks just sounds so ntural at IMS. Caught him several times on the radio during the Month o May and he was always seeming more relaxed and easygoing than a TV gig. Bob and IMS, man. I wonder if there's an alternate reality where Jenks was the voice of Indy, not Paul Page. I always wanted a Jenks/Page booth at Indy with Bobby Unser and company though, somehow that always felt like it would have just been somehow fitting

[@kg0173]

Tony Stewart did the double that year, best so far. 9th at indy and 4th at Charlotte.

[@dd-uj8jx]

Is Robby Gordon the real Ricky Bobby?

[@shrimpshrubbery7664]

No because he was actually on fire.

[@rhodrage]

Love that typo in the thumbnail

[@speedhunter7156]

Robby Gordon I would say should be in the top 50 drivers of all time due to his raw talent alone there's not many drivers who can jump as many disciplines and win in them all

[@rick6083]

I've always liked Robby G

[@MegaMr46]

Ah sh!t. Ah sh!t indeed.

[@robertscholz1718]

As a life long Robby Gordon fan I love that he's getting covered

[@tylerensminger]

A bit of a controversial driver but a talented one no doubt. A shame his team let him down by not getting the fuel mileage correct. Maybe he would have been passed though but its moot

[@davidhayes5961]

Drive it like you stole it, just like Robby Gordon. Not sorry.

[@Pabig93]

That was heartbreaking. I think it would have been cool if the IRL would have scored Gordon and Bräck as Co-Winners. Robby would have deserved the win.

[@user-ng4ns8qh6h]

砂漠のライオン、ロビー・ゴードンや。

[@handsomedevil4928]

Marty Robbins

[@bryonkidder6199]

Robby Gordon has always been fast in everything he drove all over the world! One of America's Top 5 Drivers of All Time... He should have been given a chance in Formula 1 because he could have been America's 2nd World Driving Champion behind the great Mario Andretti...

[@tatechasers2393]

what about when Danica almost won Indy, her crew made her get out of the way and let 2 cars go by, still the craziest thing I've ever seen in motor sports

[@djmohab2]

Because she would have ran out of gas otherwise, you dunce

[@goblin11c95]

looks like anyone who didnt wreck would get a top 10

[@__deebzz__]

I’ve always liked Robby… Nascar hated him though

[@jrs1rules]

Robby Gordon all crash where not his fault.

[@jettrink7510]

My worst disappoint in all of racing history... I kid you not.

[@briangriffinfamilyguyfan81]

Sucks Robby Gordon didn't win so many NASCAR races tbh

[@Slinger43]

Aw man 😟!! Poor RG, I wish Robby could have learned too control his volatile temper, as it came to overshadow (in major Motorsport's series) his amazing talent by career end. IMO, Robby Gordon is VASTLY UNDERRATED as a Wheelman 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@AlonsoRules]

The Tony George years were a bad time at Indy. Anyone could have fluked a win between 1996 and 1999.