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Friday, 18th June 2004

Why should a NASCAR fan or, for that matter any motor racing fan, go to watch a Formula One race such as the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on June 20?

Four-time NASCAR champion and three-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon, who has driven a F1 car, says the race is a spectacle not to be missed.

"Anybody who is a competitive driver when they are not in the car wished that they were in the car," Gordon said. "And when we were down in Turn 1, both my teammate Jimmie Johnson and I sat there and said, 'We'd love to be in there and drive in that deep and get the car turned and accelerate and feel the traction control kick in.'

"We all feel that we could do the job because that is what makes us competitors, and what makes us winners is the confidence that we have. We recognize that there are cars and teams that are above others, and that if you were in the right position with a top team, that you would feel like you could have success if you put the right amount of effort and dedication into it."

Gordon was asked a hypothetical question: Reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher retires tomorrow, and Ferrari offers you what ever you need financially to take his place, would you do it?

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Gordon chuckled at the question.

"That one would be hard to turn down!" he said. "I'm mean, who would turn that down? Nobody!"

Still chuckling, Gordon said: "I think that my sponsors and car owner would understand that even if it was for five races or one season, absolutely (I would do it.)

"Would I do the job that Michael does? No. The years of experience that he has, the talent that he has. I would only want to be in that position if I had enough testing time, time to really to into the shape that you need to be in. You are always looking for the best opportunity, and it doesn't get any better than that one!"

Gordon went on to say that the massive commitment it takes to chase the F1 dream is something a driver has to do early in his career. Now well-settled and extremely successful in NASCAR, Gordon said it's too late in his career to realistically consider making the switch from NASCAR to F1.

Had things gone slightly different, however, Gordon could well have been a F1 driver today. Back in 1990, three-time World Champion and 1966 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Jackie Stewart recognized Gordon's talent and asked him to come to Europe for a test.

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