Robby Gordon is blowing gaskets over the derailing of the Dakar Rally. And he adds fuel to the fire by commenting that the African desert race is not as dangerous as driving through Los Angeles.

(R. Gordon [L] in a more sedate moment with Tony Stewart [R])

USA TODAY reports that Gordon had already spent $4.5 million getting two Hummers ready for the 16-day, 5,760-mile race, before being told the rally was canceled, due to terrorist concerns.

Last month, a French family visiting Mauritania was killed in an attack by al Qaeda-linked militants. Part of the race goes through the north African country, and organizers decided to call off the rally for the first time in its 30-year history.

But Gordon, who became the first American to win a race stage back in 2005, says winding through the Sahara is no more dangerous than heading on the 405 or Figueroa Street:

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Possible terrorist attacks aren’t going to detour an upcoming road race:

AUTO BLOG revs up news that organizers of the Lisbon-Dakar Road Rally are going through with their event as planned, even with recent attacks in Mauritania.

The route is scheduled to wind through the North African nation, as racers make their way from Lisbon, Portugal, to Dakar, Senegal. Last week, al Qaeda members were blamed for an attack that left four French tourists dead, raising fears that the terrorist group is expanding outside their normal activities in Algeria & Morocco.

The 5600-mile race is set to run from January 5-20. It’s recommended that those participants riding shotgun should actually carry one.