Robby Gordon won stage nine of the 2012 Dakar Rally Tuesday in Chile after completing the 345-mile special in four hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds. Overall leader Stéphane Peterhansel finished one minute 38 seconds behind in second.

Gordon cut Peterhansel's lead to five minutes, 58 seconds with five days remaining until the rally ends Sunday in Peru.

The NASCAR driver said he had some "scary moments" Tuesday as he focused on reducing the gap between himself and the leader. Gordon is making his seventh attempt at becoming the first American to win the Dakar Rally.

Mechanical problems forced defending Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah out of the rally on Tuesday.

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