Robby Gordon Mailbag: Needs determine testing

Robby, with the limits on the number of tests a team can perform, when do you schedule tests? Do you schedule them at the beginning of the year or do you do it on the fly based on your performance during the year and upcoming tracks?

-- Chuck Knaub, Fairborn, Ohio

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NASCAR has limited our tests this year so we're having to be more selective. We always test at Daytona in January in preparation for the Daytona 500 because it's such a huge race. We also test at Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400. But after that, it's not so certain.

One of the Richard Childress Racing teams will test at Lowe's Motor Speedway before the Coca-Cola 600 weekend. We usually schedule some tests during the season based upon how well we've done at a certain track, like a mile-and-a-half track or a short track. If one aspect of our cars needs work, we'll go to a certain type of track and test it there. It usually changes on a weekly basis, though.

Robby, how does your driving style compare with your teammates? How do the different driving styles affect info that is gathered at different tests? -- Frank Dallas, Akron, Ohio

It's been working pretty well with Kevin Harvick and Jeff Green. Green seems to be better able to drive a tighter car than Kevin or I and make it fast. Kevin and I seem to like to drive more balanced cars but I have driven both set-ups this year and we've been able to share that information. The information gathered at tests by all three of us is similar. When we test, we use data acquisition systems to gather information for the engineers. Besides driver input, we obtain real data that we're able to use from these systems.

Robby, I'm probably your biggest fan from Mississippi, but I am stationed in Pakistan now and was wondering, what are your thoughts on the war?

-- Donald Cook, Brandon, Miss.

First of all, thanks very much for everything you're doing for our country. None of us can begin to tell you how much we appreciate your sacrifices. I support our troops and our president. I support what the United States is doing and the freedom Americans have. I also support the potential freedom the Iraqis will have after their country is rebuilt.

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Mr. Gordon, I am 8 years old, and my dad and I are big fans of the Cingular Wireless team! What is the best part of being a race car driver?

-- Rex Payne, Kennesaw, Ga.

It's a tie between the fans and the love of driving. Of course, I love what I do and love driving any type of car, whether it's in NASCAR, Indy cars, rally cars or off-road cars. But the fans make the sport. We couldn't do what we do in NASCAR without the fans and there wouldn't be a show for us to put on without them. It's so cool to see how many people support me and the Cingular Wireless team and I love interacting with fans whenever I have the chance.

When do you think you will have the plans for the Coca Cola 600/Indy 500 worked out? Can you give us an update?

-- Scott Washburn, Daytona Beach Fla.

I should know something by the middle of this week.

Robby, as a long-time fan, I ask this question with my utmost respect. Why do all of the Richard Childress Racing cars seem so far off from the other Chevy teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, DEI and Hendrick Motorsports? RCR was once the most feared of the Chevy teams, and I'm tired of seeing you struggle with a mishandling car almost every week.

-- John Jodsaas, Missoula, Mont.

We struggled in our body department at Richard Childress Racing. The information we gathered with our 2003 car at Kentucky wasn't valuable information that we could use at other racetracks.

We built bodies for other tracks based on Kentucky but once we went to other tracks, we weren't as competitive. The Cingular Wireless car was loose entering the corners, as you saw at Texas. Kevin Harvick and Jeff Green both got new bodies on their car at Texas and were very competitive.

I am getting my new body for Fontana and am looking forward to it because the Cingular team should be good there with the new body. In our fabrication shop, the three teams alternate when we get the new cars that come out of the fab shop. When Texas rolled around, it just so happened that it wasn't my turn and we had finally hit on something with the new bodies. So, I should have what I need at Fontana.

Robby Gordon drives the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Before arriving in NASCAR's top division, Gordon enjoyed success in the CART Series and off-road racing.

Throughout the 2003 Winston Cup season, Gordon will answer questions from SI.com users in a weekly Mailbag.