Robby 'pleased with progress' from Menard.

Robby Gordon has said that he is pleased with the progress that engine tuners Menard are making for his #7 Nextel Cup programme even though he is still facing a weekly battle to make it through Bud Pole qualifying.

A succession of engine failures and a pair of DNQ's have hampered Gordon's season so far, leaving the charismatic and versatile driver mired in 39th position in both owner and driver standings heading to the eighth round of the 2005 Nextel Cup Championship at Phoenix.

However despite being one of the drivers having to fight for just eight available grid positions each week, Gordon is looking forward to Saturday's Subway 500 at Phoenix.

"This is one of my favourite tracks," says Gordon, who scored his maiden career CART victory at Phoenix in 1995. "We had a very strong race going last fall in the #31 when we lost a motor. At the time we were running second to the #24 car (Jeff Gordon). It's one of those tracks that I have had good results and I also get to see a lot of friends and family."

Although an accident curtailed his run last weekend at Texas, Gordon's #7 team has avoided engine problems for the last two races and after three straight failures to start the year, the former Richard Childress Racing driver is happy with the work being done by engine tuners Menard.

"I'm pleased with the progress that the Menard guys are making," added the 36 year-old driver. "I had a very strong motor in Texas and we have continued to communicate well and my confidence is building in the programmes reliability. With that being said I'm looking forward to having a strong run this weekend and putting on a good show for Harrah's and Jim Beam."

Saturday's Subway 500 will be the first Nextel Cup race at Phoenix to be held under the lights, leaving Gordon with a couple of interesting problems to work his way through as he attempts to better his current career PIR best of seventh in 2001.

"The race starts at 4:45 p.m. in daylight and then transitions to darkness," said Gordon. "The shadows will form in turns one and two, while three and four will still be hot. It should make handling interesting. It is also going to be very tough on visibility going into turn one. We'll have to play with some visor tear-offs so we end up with a clear visor once it gets dark."