It’s been three many years for the reason that groundbreaking – and a few may nonetheless say controversial – transfer to run NASCAR’s premier collection on the open-wheel hallowed floor of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
When NASCAR first ran on the 2.5-mile IMS oval in 1994 it was the primary race held on the speedway apart from the Indianapolis 500 since 1916.
Many various motorsport collection have known as IMS residence since and NASCAR itself moved to the oval course for 3 years starting in 2021 when attendance waned on the 400.
That first race, nonetheless, was definitely well-received by followers with a capability crowd however the inventory automobile invasion probably went over a bit of simpler by having a hometown winner in Gordon, who would go on to assert 5 Brickyard 500 trophies.
“I simply keep in mind first rising up in Indiana wishing that I received the chance to race at Indianapolis. At the moment, you hope that it occurs in an IndyCar as a result of I used to be racing within the Midwest and Dash vehicles,” Gordon mentioned this week in an interview with a number of reporters.
“Once I moved to North Carolina, I simply type of thought, ‘Effectively, I’ve received to place that behind me and simply give attention to inventory vehicles’ and I used to be loving every thing about that. Then, they introduced that in a pair years (NASCAR) was going to Indianapolis.
“I’m fairly positive it was proper across the time that I had signed on with Hendrick (Motorsports), so I used to be very excited. You recognize, that dream was lastly going to come back true.”
Jeff Gordon after successful his fifth Brickyard 400 in 2014, a NASCAR Cup Sequence file.
Photograph by: Motion Sports activities Pictures
Not solely did Gordon get to race at IMS, however he additionally gained – and each the game and Gordon’s profession modified perpetually.
“As for the race, it was simply type of larger than life and it was simply superior to be part of it and I had no had no concept that we have been truly going to go there and be that aggressive after which win the race,” he mentioned.
“So, it definitely modified my life perpetually and set the entire No. 24 Hendrick crew on this type of superb journey. The remaining is historical past so far as. my profession. I felt like that yr, 1994, catapulted it and it was nice too for the game simply to see.
“You recognize the media protection, the fan attendance and simply what that did for the game. It’s onerous to place it into phrases. It was superb occasion and day.”
Returning to the Brickyard in a unique position
Thirty years later, Gordon is retired as a full-time competitor however nonetheless at Hendrick Motorsports because the group’s vice chairman.
He welcomes NASCAR’s choice to return to the oval observe on the occasion’s thirtieth anniversary, which may also embody his boss, Rick Hendrick because the Brickyard 400’s honorary tempo automobile driver.
“I’m excited to see the group there and the power that they’ve for being again on the oval and I can’t wait to speak to the rivals to see how a lot enjoyable they’re having with the challenges of this automobile and a giant heavy inventory automobile on such a novel, difficult race observe,” Gordon mentioned.
“The occasion may need misplaced a bit of little bit of its luster and its uniqueness as a result of we went there yearly. Now that we haven’t been again (on the oval) for some time, I feel the thrill is again.
“That’s good. I feel it must be like that.”
