Australian born Marcos Ambrose saw his bizarre week-long relationship with Robby Gordon come to an unceremonious end on Friday afternoon at Watkins Glen when bad weather robbed him of his chances of qualifying a Gordon-owned machine for his first ever Nextel Cup race.
Just days after being spun out of the lead by Gordon in the Montreal Busch race Ambrose was set to try and qualify the #77 Robby Gordon Motorsports Ford for the Centurion Boats at The Glen but after settling himself in with the Cup Series Car of Tomorrow in opening practice where he finished 35th, rain dampened the 2.45-mile New York road course and forced Bud Pole qualifying to be cancelled.
As the #77 team are outside the top 35 in Nextel Cup owner points Ambrose was one of six drivers who failed to make the 43 car starting line-up, leaving the usually chirpy double Aussie V8 Supercar Champion desperately disappointed.
“You can't fight Mother Nature, that's for sure,” said Ambrose. “It's disappointing. We thought we had a good shot at qualifying the car in, but that's just the way it goes. It was dirty all day and drizzling with rain all day, so we knew that we were going to be up against it. It makes no difference.
“We've had such a great week. From the controversy in Montreal, then to kiss and make up, and then the announcement of the big Cup deal and all the media frenzy that's been around us, we've got a lot out of this week. Running the race would have been fantastic for us, but we've already achieved so much. Robby promised me that he was going to give me another shot, so I'm going to twist his arm until he gives me one.
“The reception we've received from everyone has been big. Instantly we've gone from anonymity to some form of status down pit lane. Lots of people have been asking for autographs, it's been quite entertaining. It's great news, to be honest. It means that we are doing something right and this week has really worked out. There's been plenty of talk and plenty of banter, and that's a good thing."
![Marcos Ambrose - Kingsford Charcoal/Wood Bros Ford [pic credit: BAM media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/292514.jpg)
