Jeff Gordon At INDY

[Joey Jo Jo]

Jeff Gordon is no doubtly one of the best drivers in NASCAR while not a huge fan of NASCAR I catch a race here and there and see Jeff dominate. I heard he has about a million year contract but it would be very intresting to see how he does with an open wheel car. Perhaps INDY????

Also you have to give credit where credit is due NASCAR does a great job of promoting their sport
CART should follow the lead.

[KC]

I would love to see Jeff Gordon get involved in open wheel racing once again. He was weaned on the same exact tracks as Tony Stewart and I beleive he has the car skill and feel to drive an open wheeler as well as a tin top.

[SevenGrain]

Actually, before Gordon entered the BGN series he actively pursued a CART ride only to be turned away. Growing up in Indiana, the Indy 500 was Jeff's dream as a young racer. I guess hindsight is twenty-twenty, Gordon would have been quite a star in a Champ Car.

[floid2000]

I never knew that Jeff ever tried to get into Cart. I always thought with the timing and all when he was shopping big league rides ,Open wheel racing in this country was coming apart at the seams....While NASCAR flourished

[Liz]

Unfortunately for Mr. Gordon, this transfer would involve a substantial cut in pay. At this point in his life, I can not see him switching to Champ Cars - perhaps he can get a ride (as Tony Stewart did) for the Indy 500 to satisfy his childhood dream, though. Seems just the name recognition would be worth it for The Man That Ruined Indy to take a chance.

[Joe Fan]

Originally posted by floid2000
I never knew that Jeff ever tried to get into Cart.

Unfortunately, this is true and is one of the reasons why Tony George started up the IRL. It appears that perhaps this same mistake will not be made with "the next Jeff Gordon"--Kasey Kahne. Kasey is from the Washington state area and made a big name for himself at the age of 16, finishing second in a World of Outlaws feature race behind 16 time champion Steve Kinser.

Kasey is Ford's boy and they, along with Bobby Rahal, are trying to steer in the direction of open wheel. Note that his website states NASCAR and the Indy 500 are his career goals so this is a year where he is going to see what he likes by racing in Toyota Atlantic, USAC sprints and the World of Outlaws. Hopefully, he will go in the direction of CART or F1.

[KC]

You cannot blame Gordon for taking a cup ride. He could race in Atlantics or Lights until called up, or go and drive a cup car for substantial money. No brainer to me.

I've see Kahne race and met him at the Chili Bowl and he has supreme talent for open wheel cars on dirt. If he can be succesfully trained in the technical aspects of the CART mahcinery he will be good.

[floid2000]

Jeff's done very well in Winston cup. With Earnhart gone he's the "Man".

[1togo]

Wonderboy has a lifetime contract with Slick Hendrick. He was lured to NASCAR Busch series by Michael Kranefuss of Ford Motor Co. Slick poached him from Ford after they invested a lot of time and money,so he never had a real choice between stock cars and open wheel! Some Open wheelers have been able to adapt to the stock cars,while others haven't! Only a hand-full of stock car guys have tried open wheel cars,the most notable were Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough!

[bluefeather]

I think Jeff Gordon is too focused on stock cars to be effective in an Indycar.

Maybe if he tagged along with Smokey Johnson for a few Saturday night runs with the Sprints he'll get the feeling back?

[floid2000]

One of the Nascar guys came in second once. Tim Richmond would have probably won Indy eventualy if he had lived a few more years.