Robby Gordon Won’t Race Women

Racecar driver Robby Gordon refuses to race against newcomer Danica Patrick claiming that her petite size gives her an unfair advantage. Gordon, whose weight is variously reported from 180 to 205 pounds, whines that Patrick, at 100 pounds, has a one mile per hour gain over him. Wisely, the Indy Racing League dismissed Gordon’s complaint stating: “It’s no issue at all…”

Clearly, Gordon’s issue is not Patrick’s weight, but her gender. Gordon has never balked at racing against Indy winner Dan Wheldon who weighs in at 157 pounds. According to Gordon’s pseudo-physics, Wheldon, weighting 48 pounds less than Gordon, would have a half a mile per hour lead over his pudgy competitor.

If weight were the issue, the solution is simple; add weight to each car so that all cars with their drivers are of equal weight. But Gordon has not suggested that that all weight differences be eliminated nor has he refused to race against any driver that weighs less than he does. Showing a lack of sports(wo)manship that exposes his chauvinistic attitude he has only refused to race against Patrick – that is, he will not risk losing to a woman.