Smack: Robby tries to play nice but it's transparent

1. Robby Gordon has offered Marcos Ambrose a ride in one of his cars for Sunday's race at Watkins Glen. How much will that olive branch help restore Gordon's reputation?

Dave Rodman: With the haters, probably not at all. But there are a lot of misguided people everywhere you look, so whatever. Robby's intense; and you have to be able to appreciate that.

David Caraviello: It's something he needs to do. As time has passed since Saturday, Robby has probably realized how poor his actions looked in the eyes of the public, and that he needs to do something to help turn that around.

Duane Cross: I don't think it will do much to restore his rep; fans already either love him or hate him -- but I think Robby understands that the gesture is goodwill on his part to a fellow competitor.

Dave Rodman: It does go to show that when he's thinking clearly and without the pressure of going one-on-one against the world, behind the wheel, he can make some pretty astute decisions.

Duane Cross: I also think he's trying to send a message to NASCAR: I can play nice.

David Caraviello: Unless, of course, he gives Marcos a car that's set to blow up on Lap 30.

Dave Rodman: I am pleasantly surprised that of the bunch of e-mails I've received, more than two-thirds -- beginning on Sunday morning, of all days, when we posted the "parked" story -- have been pro-Robby.

Duane Cross: A lot of e-mails this week from folks who were not Robby fans but now say they're rooting for him because of the Montreal fiasco.

Dave Rodman: Now conversely, they actually mostly said "Robby got screwed" and questioned NASCAR's ability to understand its rules; enforce them and make cogent calls.

David Caraviello: Sorry, but I fail to see how showing that degree of insolence can win somebody over. He may very well have been wronged, but his response scuttled the credibility of his argument.

Duane Cross: How cool would it be to see Robby and Marcos running 1-2 at the end? And do you think Marcos would take the opportunity to dump Robby in a turn?

Dave Rodman: Yes, if it comes down to it at the end between the two of them, Marcos did say on national radio Tuesday night he'd have no problem doing whatever he had to do to Robby to win.

David Caraviello: Of course, Robby probably didn't realize how childish he looked from the seat of his car. Television replays in the aftermath have probably helped.

Duane Cross: Yeah, that was the consensus: Robby got screwed. And yes, David -- Robby's actions hurt his case.

Dave Rodman: Of course, hindsight being 20-20, and using all the replays they should have had, you could see Robby passed Marcos under yellow; got spun out in incidental contact so should have been placed where he rejoined -- and if RG didn't get it, throw a red flag and place him there.

David Caraviello: But according to NASCAR's statement, he wasn't technically in violation of that directive until he crossed the start-finish line. (Continued)