What bothers me is, you're having a horrible year. Won the
Daytona 500, three other races. That's not a horrible year, but it's not the year that we hoped for.
But, yeah, you know, I think we build those expectations for ourselves as well internally within the team. It's not a big surprise that it's talked about among the media. Sometimes we're surprised maybe how big of a story it can get. You know, I've been a part of it. I've seen it. I somewhat understand it.
Q.
Has Dale Earnhardt Jr. handled himself well?
JEFF GORDON:
Yeah, I think so. You know, I mean, you got to give him credit for how he's handled himself under the circumstances. I mean, here is a guy that came into the sport who was the second most popular driver when he came in day one - even before he came in, when he was in the Busch Series.
You know, living up to that name, his father's shadow, you know, it's got to be very difficult for him. I think that, you know, he wishes that he could just get out there and race because I think he's truly a racer. You know, I think he's got the talent to be very successful. It's hard to say exactly why they haven't been maybe more successful.
But, you know, again, it's a double-edged sword. He's going to have more criticism more, but he's going to have more praise when it does happen. If the wins the championship, I mean, my gosh, you know, he'll be in outer space. Not him, but his legend that follows him.
Q.
Has the new point system made it tougher to win a championship?
JEFF GORDON:
It's definitely made it tougher. I would say that, you know, with the points system being the way it is, it's more competitive, it's harder to win the championship, which makes it that much more rewarding, in my opinion, to do it under this points system. I think it is going to make it tougher for guys to get multiple championships.
![Jeff Gordon addresses the media in Las Vegas. [Pic Credit Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/192824.jpg)
