Jeff Gordon readies for the Brickyard in surprising return

He won’t talk about potentially winning a record sixth race at Indianapolis.

Tony Stewart qualified third for his final Brickyard 400.

“Rick said to me, ‘Are you coming to Indianapolis?'” Gordon recalled.

“Then I took that information and went to the simulator the next morning in Huntersville (N.C.) with GM (General Motors/Chevrolet), and they put those set-ups and this aero package in the vehicle in the simulator, and I was able to drive it”. I’m not amped up, or anything like that. With Gordon’s blessing, the sign was removed and replace with one carrying Earnhardt’s name. Track president Doug Boles told USA Today that ticket sales began to increase just 90 minutes after the official announcement. It was here at Indianapolis, that he knew would define his career.

So, not only is Stewart having fun again, he’s regained most of the confidence he lost after breaking his leg three years ago, starting a dark period that also included his involvement in a sprint vehicle accident that claimed the life of another driver on a dirt track in upstate NY. “But that confidence they have in me, and then to go spend time with the team”. Gordon has won at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway five times in his NASCAR career, more than any driver in any racing series, so the sentiment is that Gordon will have few issues getting up to speed for the race.

“We set the fast time in practice and that gave me a little extra vote of confidence”, Busch said. He said he once overheated at a race at Richmond when cool air that was blowing into his helmet turned hot. Everybody wants to win here. It helps me mentally try to win that battle.

That is vintage Stewart, using his own gently (this time) acerbic manner to pushing away any hint of sentimentality as he goes about his final season as a Cup driver. Nonetheless, fans should expect to see a great race this Sunday, and should enjoy seeing one of NASCAR’s greats return to his hometown track.

His parents and stepfather sat in the front row of Friday’s pre-race news conference.

“The Brickyard 400 is the third largest attended sporting event in the state of in every year”, IMS president Doug Boles said.

His answers sounded like a throwback to his early IndyCar days when he routinely responded to questions about track conditions or just about anything else at Indy with a nonchalant answer about throwing dirt on the track. “I am coming on Saturday,”‘ Gordon said. “It’s hard when you spot these guys eight races at the beginning of the season to get caught up, but we’re making a good run at that”.

Driver Jeff Gordon climbs in to the vehicle during practice for the Brickyard 400 NASCAR auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 22, 2016. While his friends are disappointed that Stewart doesn’t have the stage to himself, Stewart embraces it.

Stewart, 45, then struggled on the track as he made his return, with just two top-10 finishes in his first seven races back. Kyle Busch’s lap of 182.350 miles per hour was fastest of the second session.

And it seems everyone has embraced the two sentimental favorites this weekend. Gordon, who had already agreed to drive the pace vehicle for Sunday’s race, said yes. “I can only imagine how loud they are going to be at driver intros”.

Gordon believes the biggest challenge won’t be so much the track or the auto, but proper hydration as the forecast is calling for a temperate in the upper 90s on Sunday.

Even now, Stewart can’t quite find the proper description.

“I certainly woke up feeling good when I saw Dale Jr.’s tweet that he’s seen progress”, Gordon said. You can follow along live all weekend at NASCAR’s Race Center.