Pole-sitter Gordon leaves Daytona smiling despite last-lap spin
Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon caused an early Speedweeks buzz by winning the Daytona 500 pole, but finished 33rd in his final 500 start. Q. What are you thinking and feeling right now knowing this is it?
GORDON: “For some reason, I’m still smiling and enjoying every moment of it. Obviously, I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second half. What an amazing car we had. Just out there in the front ... just controlling the race. (I) had one restart where I started on the outside and just couldn’t get our line going. We got shuffled back and kind of played catch-up from that point on. “This was an amazing week and an amazing day. I am just in a different place that is so foreign to me, but so incredible. To just be taking it all in and enjoying every moment. Yeah, right now I’m a little bit sad this is my final Daytona 500, but I’m more upset we didn’t have a shot at winning there at the end. “Congratulations to Joey Logano. That moment you saw there with his dad, that is what it’s all about. These types of moments, such a big race, it means so much to all of us. You want to share that with the people that you are closest to that have been there along the way. “I’m not going to miss those final laps. That was just crazy. If you are over there in Victory Lane, it is awesome and you enjoy it. If you are not in Victory Lane, you are like, ‘Oh gosh, when is that next restrictor-plate race?’” Q. Did you enjoy your final Daytona 500? GORDON: “I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the pre-race and the race; all the way up to that wreck.”
Q. How tough is it for your last Daytona 500 to end like this?
GORDON: “It is disappointing because things were going so well, especially that first half. That first half was amazing. I was enjoying that moment very, very much. Just being out front. Being in control of the race. I felt like we were just doing everything perfectly. “The car was amazing. I knew it was going to be crucial to maintain that track position. That one restart, I chose the outside and that line just didn’t go. From that point on, we were just playing catch-up.”