Jeff Gordon ruled out any possibility on running next year’s 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 during a press conference this morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was at the Brickyard because he is the pace car driver for today’s Indy 500. Gordon has amassed an incredible 92 wins to go along with his four titles, but says that the longtime dream of the Indy 500 is something that is missing in his career.
“There is no doubt in my mind that one thing … I feel like I have accomplished more in this sport than I ever hoped, but the one thing that did elude me that we did pursue, and by we, I mean my parents and I when we were trying to make things happen, was racing in the Indianapolis 500,” said Gordon.
“I’ve said this many times and I still believe it.
“Winning the inaugural Brickyard 400 to me fulfilled that dream and now that I’ve been able to win it four more times, this is a special place and I love racing here. With that being said, I would I have liked to have run one Indianapolis 500, to know what it was like, I sure would have. It won’t be happening but I would have liked to known what it was like.”
With retirement imminent at season’s end, Gordon has recently signed a deal with NASCAR on FOX to be an analyst in the booth, replacing Larry McReynolds. The Hendrick Motorsports driver cited that commitment to the network as reasons for not running next year’s centennial running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
“Because I’ll be in the FOX booth next year,” said Gordon. “I’m so glad that deal worked out because I wouldn’t have a better excuse for you [the media].”
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