Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Chase Elliott on Gordon's return: "It's going to be different for everybody"

Jeff Gordon's surprise return at Indianapolis this weekend will be a bit surreal for all his longtime fans, as well his successor in the No. 24.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Action Sports Photography

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Bill Elliott
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Championship victory lane: damage on the car of Chase Elliott

Gordon will be filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88. In all of his 797 Sprint Cup starts, including 22 at the Brickyard, he has driving no number but the No. 24.

But that car now belongs to rookie Chase Elliott, who has done an admirable job behind the wheel all season.

"It's going to be different for everybody ... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't, "he explained when asked by Motorsport.com about Gordon's surprise return.

"I think it's going to be an exciting weekend, (but) the most important thing is Dale's situation and where he's at with his health and getting him back to the track as soon as possible.

Chase then added, "But Jeff is certainly a great guy to get to come in and fill in for a couple races. Hopefully it's no more than this week and next week for that matter. I think he'll do a really good job, picking right up where he left off.

"It'll definitely be different, but I'm excited."

The 20-year-old may be a Sprint Cup rookie, but this is far from his first Brickyard experience. He competed at the iconic race track as an Xfinity driver in both 2014 and 2015. And in fact, one of his few Cup starts last year came at IMS. Piloting the No. 25 for Hendrick Motorsports, he finished 18th. 

But you can go even farther back than that. In 2002, a then six-year-old Chase was present for his father's Brickyard 400 triumph. 

"This is definitely a special place for me. This is a race track that will always be special in my mind. This was one of my dad's biggest wins and one of the very few I was alive for. That being said, I don't remember a whole lot but it's cool to look back and be in some of the pictures. It makes it memorable for me.

Outside of an innate ability to wheel a race car, the rising star also has a plethora of information at his disposal. One of the perks of driving for Rick Hendrick and he puts them all to use as he continues to improve his on-track prowess.

"They do a really good job of giving me what I need and me being able to access the information easily. We have a database that I can log onto and check out any time. So they do a really good job of keeping up, staying ahead."

Chase enters Indianapolis 11th in the championship standings, having scored six top fives and eleven top tens in 19 races this season. He is not yet locked in, but is still 38 points to the good despite four straight races with finishes of 21st or worse. 

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Fresh off Eldora win, Kyle Larson "really excited" about Indianapolis
Next article Analysis: Why Jeff Gordon's Indy record makes him the perfect sub

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global