Jeff Gordon keeps record straight: 'I am a fill-in driver for Junior'
Jeff Gordon never imagined he'd be back behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet eight months after he retired, but now that he's here, he's not going to make a big deal of it.
Last weekend, Gordon filled in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Brickyard 400 and this weekend at Pocono Raceway, Gordon is again piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet.
Beyond that is anyone's guess, as Earnhardt works to recover from concussion symptoms.
But Gordon isn't making this his comeback tour.
Far from it, in fact.
Asked Friday if there would be new merchandise sold to mark his return to the cockpit, Gordon was unequivocal.
"Zero chance. Not produced by us," Gordon said after practice at Pocono, where the No. 88 Chevrolet has 22nd fastest. "We consciously made an effort that there wasn't going to be 'Gordon' on the car anywhere. It's not about that."
Gordon said he recognizes that his role as a substitute driver for Earnhardt produced conflicting feeling in some of Earnhardt's huge number of fans.
"I just have too much respect for what Dale is going through," said Gordon. "And you've got to understand that while there are a lot of fans that are excited about this and there are some good storylines, there are a lot of fans that thought they'd never see this and are having a hard time accepting it, too."
And he left no doubt at all about his role.
"To me, it's just about I am a fill-in driver for Junior," said Gordon. "It's as pure and simple as that and there is no need to try to do any merchandising on that."
As for how long Earnhardt could be out, Gordon added, “I’m not speculating anything at this time. I wouldn’t be here in Pocono if I wasn’t committed to be there for Hendrick Motorsports and this team in any way that they need me. … I will be here as long as they need me. I say that very loosely.”
