NASCAR Cup Series

Champ Sainz starts Dakar Rally right

Published Jan. 2, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

NASCAR driver Robby Gordon completed the first stage of the Dakar Rally on Sunday in eighth place, NASCAR.com reported, covering the 138-mile course in 2 hours, 29 minutes, 36 seconds. Gordon and navigator Kellon Walch of Team Hummer trail defending champion Carlos Sainz by 11:04.

Sainz won the first stage in 2:18:32. His Volkswagen was 1:31 ahead of second-place Stephane Peterhansel in a BMW and 2:16 in front of Volkswagen teammate Nasser Al Attiyah. American driver Mark Miller was fourth, 4:17 behind.

Ruben Faria of Portugal took the stage in the bike category, clocking 1:58:02. He was 29 seconds ahead of defending champion Cyril Despres and had a 1:15 lead on Marc Coma, the 2009 champion.

Faria seemed surprised to have won the stage. "I did better today than many great riders with different driving styles," he said. "It's already a good point of reference."

Despres took the wet, slippery day in his stride.

"It was a great warming-up exercise – a winding route, big sliding sections, a mix between skiing and riding," Despres said. "I am in good shape. . . . In the beginning of a Dakar, one always wonders: is this going to change much? Even if we tested our bikes, a Dakar will always be a Dakar. The race is on now and staying focused is of the essence."

Sunday's first stage from Victoria to Corboda in northern Argentina followed the ceremonial ride from Buenos Aires to Victoria on the opening day. Officials said 407 contestants started the race on Sunday, down from the 430 who were enrolled on Saturday.

Dakar is being held for the third straight year in Argentina and Chile. This year's route covers 9,500 kilometers, reaching the Atacama desert in northern Chile – one of the driest places on earth – before heading back for the Jan. 16 finish in Buenos Aires.