INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leaving a memory that will last a lifetime.
On Sunday, Gordon’s final race at the 2.5-mile speedway was anything but memorable.
In his final year of Sprint Cup Series competition, Gordon fired the engine in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet looking to keep his Indy crown as the defending champion, but more importantly earn a finish that will carry a lifelong legacy in his home state.
Starting 19th, Gordon knew that if he wanted to win a coveted sixth Brickyard 400 title, he would be in for the fight of his life. But, Gordon’s hope of winning his first race of the season was over just 50 laps into the race.
Clint Bowyer broke loose on the backstretch, Gordon spun trying to miss him and crashed into the outside wall. Gordon exited the scene under his owner power, but brought a wounded race car to pit road, where the team attempted to make repairs.
Gordon returned to the race four laps down, but was unable to maintain minimum speed, and later went to the garage for further repairs. He later returned to race and was able to overtake Alex Bowman to finish 42nd in his final race at The Brickyard.
“We were just racing there on a restart,” said Gordon. “I was side-by-side with Kasey Kahne and I saw the No. 15 (Clint Bowyer) get sideways and was just trying to avoid him and we both kind of got loose. I got loose. The car came around and it was just everything I could do to try to recover and not hit the No. 15. And then it spun around and got into the outside wall and tore-up the nose.
“Today was an unfortunate day. It seems like in recent years it’s been kind of feast or famine for us here. But I tell you what, from the first time I came here all the way through last year and even this year the fans have been amazing, the experiences have been amazing, the wins.
“Everything has been incredible and I feel so fortunate to have just gotten an opportunity to race here. Certainly to have five wins here is just unbelievable as well.”
Gordon’s worst finish of the season leaves him 11th in the championship standings losing one spot to Denny Hamlin entering next Sunday’s race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
