  We present Chandra observations of two nearby radio galaxies in group
environments, 3C285 and 3C442A. The host galaxies of both sources are involved
in mergers with nearby massive galaxies, and the hot gas in the systems is
extended along lines joining the interacting galaxies. Both sources show strong
evidence for interactions between the radio lobes and the asymmetrical hot gas.
We argue that the structure in the hot gas is independent of the existence of
the radio lobes in these systems, and argue that hot gas shaped by an ongoing
massive galaxy merger may play an important role in the dynamics of radio lobes
in other objects. For 3C442A, our observations show that gas is being driven
out of both members of the host interacting galaxy pair, and the implied
constraints on galaxy velocities are consistent with mildly supersonic motions
with respect to the group-scale hot gas. The previously known filamentary radio
structure in the center of 3C442A may be a result of the interaction between
hot gas expelled from these galaxies and pre-existing radio-emitting plasma. In
3C285, where there is no ongoing galaxy merger, the powerful radio source is
probably having a significant effect on the energetics of the host group.
