Jeff Gordon discusses interest in Le Mans ahead of Rolex 24 return

Jeff Gordon is returning to his first passion — racing.

The four-time NASCAR champion-turned-FOX-Sports-analyst will compete in this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

I’ve always wanted to race a car that’s like this -- exotic looking, performs just unbelievably

Jeff Gordon

Gordon will drive the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R for Wayne Taylor Racing, partnering with former teammate Max Angelelli and Taylor's sons, Ricky and Jordan, in the 24-hour endurance race.

“It goes back to 2007, when Wayne Taylor and I got together and I did the Rolex 24 that year,” Gordon said in the release. “After that race -- it was a fun experience -- but I felt like there was a little bit left on the table. I didn’t have a great experience in the rain. I had to get out of the car early and we finished third.

“I’ve just always felt there was some unfinished business there, but it takes a big commitment to do it right, and I wanted to do it right. So, I thought (the Rolex 24) probably wouldn’t happen while I was still driving the Cup car.”

Another go at the watch

When Gordon announced his retirement from full-time NASCAR competition two years ago this month, Taylor offered the driver another chance to win a coveted Rolex Cosmograph Daytona — the watch awarded the victors of the iconic 24-hour race.

“Wayne and I stayed in contact and maintained a friendship and he knew I’d like to do it again someday, so, when I announced I was stepping away from the Cup car, it wasn’t long after that that I got a call from Wayne saying, ‘Hey, would you like to come back and do it?’,” Gordon said.

“The really cool part that he was holding onto at that time was that Cadillac and Dallara were building this new prototype and the series was moving to these prototype cars, and that got me extremely excited. I’ve always wanted to race a car that’s like this -- exotic looking, performs just unbelievably -- but I also knew I needed to get enough time in the car. It was important for me to get enough time in the car in November and December and January.”

The race marks General Motors' first Cadillac prototype race car since 2002. GM will field three cars in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Protoptype (P) class.

This will be Gordon's first stint with the Taylor brothers,who finished third is last year’s P-class standings.

Ricky Taylor described the addition of Gordon as “a dream come true for all of us.”

“It is a huge compliment to how well-respected the team has become over the years for someone with the history and career of Jeff Gordon to want to be a part of it,” Taylor added. “I’m sure he will be a great addition to the lineup, and hopefully we can all get our first Rolex 24 win together.”

Learning curve

Although Gordon has nine NASCAR road course wins to his credit, the Rolex 24 is a different animal from the relatively short 200-plus-miles races at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International. Gordon tested with the team in December (13-14) and again on the 6th and 7th of this month.

He recalled the opportunity to trade seats with Juan Pablo Montoya at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Colombian’s stint with Williams F1, when describing the difference between testing stock cars and sports cars.

“I drove the Formula One car back in 2003, and I’ve always said it was the most awesome experience of just pure driving, because of what the car was capable of doing -- more than I think my body was capable of doing,” Gordon said. “This is the closest thing that’s come for me, in terms of how aggressive you can brake the car, how quickly it stops, how much downforce it has through the higher-speed corners. It’s been a really, really fun experience.

“At first it was a bit overwhelming because the steering wheel has a lot of buttons on it, there is a lot of technology involved, and I’ve had to learn how to be prepared for the race and tune the car from inside. That’s been a big steep learning curve for me.”

Is Le Mans next?

Should things go well at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Gordon would consider the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The oldest and most prestigious race in the FIA World Endurance Championship is scheduled for June on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“I keep saying Le Mans is out there,” Gordon said. “We’ll see how this goes. I think it would be a very cool race to do, but at the same time it’s different than Daytona. Daytona, you can get on the track in December and January and then you have the tests and practice. I hear Le Mans is not quite like that, so it might be something that never happens, but it’s certainly out there.

“I think if this experience goes well, it definitely opens up some doors, because let’s be honest, driving ovals pretty much my whole life, until you have some success or show what you are capable of doing in this type of a car, people don’t really take you seriously.”