How much money did Robby Gordon's team lose from the cancellation?

Gordon's team spent about $4.5 million preparing two Hummers for the race, including shipping 10 gearboxes and 20 sets of axles overseas. ASO offered to refund his entry fees of about $360,000.

Who canceled the Dakar Rally?

The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) called off the event for the first time in its 30-year history.

What sponsorship deal did Gordon lose because of the cancellation?

A potential sponsorship deal with Microsoft that would have allowed fans to race the 2009 event with an Internet connection via the Xbox.

What Dakar milestone did Robby Gordon achieve?

Gordon became the first American to win a stage of the Dakar Rally, in 2005.

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Robby Gordon Angry Over 2008 Dakar Rally Cancellation - USA TODAY Article

USA Today newspaper article headlined 'Cancellation angers Gordon' about Robby Gordon and the Dakar Rally

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Newspaper clipping reporting that Robby Gordon says the cancelled Dakar Rally cost him $4.5 million, with a photo of the driver.

AI caption January 2008 · Photo 1976 of 4391

This is a scanned USA TODAY newspaper article by Nate Ryan titled "Cancellation angers Gordon," reporting from Daytona Beach, Fla. Off-road and NASCAR driver Robby Gordon expresses anger over the cancellation of the Dakar Rally by the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) following terrorist threats and the Dec. 24 slayings of French tourists in Mauritania by al-Qaeda-linked militants. Gordon states his team spent about $4.5 million preparing two Hummers, including shipping 10 gearboxes and 20 sets of axles overseas, and criticizes organizers for lacking a backup plan, suggesting alternate routes through Portugal. The article notes it was the first cancellation in the event's 30-year history, that Gordon became the first American to win a Dakar stage in 2005, and that ASO offered to refund his roughly $360,000 entry fees. Gordon worries about lawsuits against the organizers, says he doesn't know how ASO can recover, and reveals the cancellation cost a potential Microsoft sponsorship that would have let fans race the 2009 event online via Xbox. A photo caption shows Gordon paying a parking fine in Lisbon, Portugal, on Jan. 4 while there for the rally. Readers learn about the financial and logistical impact of the cancellation on Robby Gordon Motorsports.

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Frequently asked questions

Why was the Dakar Rally canceled according to this article?: Organizers canceled the race after terrorist threats and the Dec. 24 slayings of French tourists by al-Qaeda-linked militants in Mauritania.
How much money did Robby Gordon's team lose from the cancellation?: Gordon's team spent about $4.5 million preparing two Hummers for the race, including shipping 10 gearboxes and 20 sets of axles overseas. ASO offered to refund his entry fees of about $360,000.
Who canceled the Dakar Rally?: The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) called off the event for the first time in its 30-year history.
What sponsorship deal did Gordon lose because of the cancellation?: A potential sponsorship deal with Microsoft that would have allowed fans to race the 2009 event with an Internet connection via the Xbox.
What Dakar milestone did Robby Gordon achieve?: Gordon became the first American to win a stage of the Dakar Rally, in 2005.