Jeff Gordon's drive for five gets Brickyard boost

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sunday already had been proclaimed Jeff Gordon Day in Indianapolis before the No. 24 Chevrolet finished first for a record fifth time in the Brickyard 400.

So now it's time to ask: Will this also be Jeff Gordon Year in NASCAR Nation?

The four-time champion wasn't backing off that mantle after his second Sprint Cup victory this season.

"I think the reason why we're leading the points is because we're the best team," he said. "I don't believe that means we always have the best race car.

"But this weekend we had the best car and the best team. That tells me that if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. It's certainly going to be a huge confidence boost for this team. We recognize the significance of this."

#JeffGordonDay was trending nationally after Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard's proclamation to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Gordon's win in the inaugural NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (and also honoring millions in charitable donations made to the city by the former resident of nearby Pittsboro). There also was plenty of numerical significance for the Hendrick Motorsports star.

Besides joining Michael Schumacher (five Formula One victories) and Jimmie Johnson (four Cup wins and an IROC triumph) as the only five-time winners at Indy, Gordon also notched his 90th victory on NASCAR's premier circuit, became the first driver to lead 500 laps at Indianapolis and clinched a Chase for the Sprint Cup berth.

But the magnitude of an Indianapolis win transcends statistics and the heritage of a fabled speedway that opened in 1909. The 2.5-mile track also is the most technically difficult in Sprint Cup. Passing opportunities are limited on its flat layout, which demands optimum handling and superior horsepower.

Generally, only the best teams win here, as evidenced by eight of the past 20 winners at the Brickyard also being crowned NASCAR champions the same season.

"It's so hard to gain confidence in this series, but a Brickyard 400 win, it just doesn't get any better," said Gordon, who won two of his four titles (1998, '01) during seasons in which he also captured Indy.

"To share that with that team that worked so hard, to see the look on their face, you can just see it in them now, you know, they believe."We were points leaders, we won at Kansas (Speedway), but I don't know if we believed we were capable of winning this championship this year. We do now. We've got to keep that fire in us."

There have been questions about Gordon's desire since his last Brickyard win 10 years ago. He is 13 years removed from his last title and hasn't finished top five in points since 2009.

The dip in results has coincided with the rise of Jimmie Johnson, and Gordon conceded his teammate's six championships over the past eight seasons took its toll mentally.

"You feel like you've kind of won all that you could win, then a guy like Jimmie Johnson comes along and starts dominating," he said. "You kind of lose the motivation."

Gordon, who turns 43 on Aug. 4, has talked more openly about retirement in recent years and said during the preseason that he'd exit the sport if he won the title this year.

But he has backed off since opening with 14 top 10s in 20 races under the guidance of crew chief Alan Gustafson.

"This team certainly has rejuvenated me in a lot of ways," he said. "It makes me want to dig down even deeper than I possibly can to give them everything back that they're putting into it. They've inspired me in so many ways. I'm just having a blast driving awesome race cars."

There is more motivation, too. Gordon celebrated Indy for the first time with his wife, Ingrid (whom he married in 2006), and children Ella, 7, and Leo, 3.

"Those things kind of change your perspective on what's important to you (and) how much effort you want to put into something," he said. "With how good the race cars are, I don't want to be the weak link. So it's pushed me to give more, do more, work harder.

"My wife and kids, they've never experienced a championship. I told her, 'Hey, I know you want to know what it's like to win a championship. Well, there's a big commitment.' She's like, 'Whatever it takes.' That's the kind of year that we're having. We're just putting everything we possibly can into it."

Behind the wheel, it meant shoring up his biggest weakness: Restarts. Gordon has struggled since the adoption of double-file restarts five years ago, and he spun his tires twice early in Sunday's 400-miler.

But he delivered "the restart of my life" after the final caution, snatching the lead from teammate Kasey Kahne and leading the final 17 laps.

"Jeff just beat me," said Kahne, whose No. 5 Chevy led a race-high 70 laps. "We got into Turn 1, he held me down and he was able to get momentum (and) did a better job."

Gordon's car seemed to have an extra bit of oomph throughout the race. "I don't think anybody had anything for (Gordon)," runner-up Kyle Busch said. "It seemed like anybody that he got behind he was able to pass."

Team owner Rick Hendrick wasn't surprised, having told Gordon on race morning that "this was his day. The car was super fast," Hendrick said. "I told him, 'You're going to win.' The team put a lot of effort in this. They've been so strong all year."

What was Gordon's reaction to Hendrick's prediction? He smiled broadly.

"Well, this was Jeff Gordon Day," he said.

And still could be his year.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @nateryan