Robby Gordon Faces NASCAR Fine

Wednesday, August 8th 2007, 7:42 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ For refusing to give up his second-place standing and drop back to 13th in a race on Saturday, driver Robby Gordon has been fined $35,000 and put on probation for the rest of the year.

Gordon protested a NASCAR ruling during the closing laps of a Busch Series race in Montreal and refused to give up his position. He was immediately disqualified but stayed in the race and spun leader Marcos Ambrose. He was ordered off the track, but refused and completed the final two laps and celebrated as if he were the winner by pumping his fist in the air and doing burnouts.

Hours later, Gordon offered what he called a ``peace offering'' to Ambrose, saying he would field a car for the Australian driver in this weekend's Nextel Cup event at Watkins Glen.

So Ambrose will get to make his Nextel Cup debut in a joint effort between Gordon and Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, his current team.

NASCAR says Gordon will be suspended indefinitely if he disrupts another event this season or if his actions are inappropriate.