Jeff Gordon NASCAR NEXTEL Teleconference

Jeff Gordon NASCAR NEXTEL Teleconference

Jeff Gordon, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point leader, was the guest on this week's media teleconference. Here's the transcript of the questions and Gordon's answers:

Let's turn to our guest this week on the NASCAR NEXTEL teleconference. He is arguably the best driver in the sport. The numbers don't lie. Jeff Gordon is a four time Cup champion and has finished in the Top 10 in the points standing for 10 consecutive seasons, no doubt will be making that 11 after the 2004 season.

This season Jeff and the No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet are back in top form having posted wins at Indianapolis, Talladega, Sonoma, Daytona and the California Speedway race held in early May. His five victories this season bring his career total to 69 including three times at California Speedway. By the way, Jeff currently leads the 2004 NEXTEL Cup point standings by 24 points over teammate Jimmie Johnson. No getting around that No. 24, in most cases there's no catching it either.

Jeff, welcome to the NASCAR NEXTEL teleconference. Talk about coming back to California Speedway, a track on which you've enjoyed great success. What do you think has been some contributing factors to having raced so well at Fontana?

JEFF GORDON: First, I'd like to say thanks. You know, you really never know exactly what it is that attracts you to a place or racetrack or what makes the car work so well other than the total team effort.

But I think our success earlier this year at California is when we really started to find the horsepower underneath the hood. I'm really looking forward to going back there. I felt like we had a great run.

But a lot of things have changed since then. We're going to be under the lights a little bit there towards the end of the race. But, you know, it's a good track for us. I think it's a great place for us to get another victory and continue some momentum going into those last 10.

We'll open it up to questions from the media on the line.

Q. As we go down to these next two races, there's going to be a lot of racers on the track who are going to be jockeying just to be in the Top 10. Obviously, you've got that locked up and are trying to hold on to the top spot. Do you think the situation that we're going to see in the next two weeks is going to make for a different kind of racing or is there going to be a little more intense racing from these guys in 8 through 15 who are going to try to crack the Top 10?

JEFF GORDON: I think, you know, the guys are definitely you're going to start seeing the aggressive driving, you know, a little bit more risk taking going on because everybody knows that if you're in the Top 10, that you've got a shot at the championship. It's not just getting into the Top 10 anymore; it's getting into the Top 10 to race for that championship.

You know, I think that you're definitely going to see guys, and there are so many guys that are still capable of getting in there, that you're going to see them really, you know, pushing the limits of the car. I think the teams are going to be pushing the limits, you know, with setups, horsepower, gearing and everything.

You know, California's a varied track, it's really wide, a lot of room to pass. You know, it's not like a Bristol where you've got to push and shove guys out of the way. I think you ought to really start to see this championship unfold, especially for those guys that are trying to get in that Top 10.

Q. Is there any one driver that's really not in the Top 10 right now that kind of would worry you if they actually made it in the Top 10?

JEFF GORDON: I think, you know, there's any number of guys. I would say right now that the Evernham cars are the ones that I'm a bit surprised they're not in the Top 10, if you look at their earlier success in the season, and how strong they can be at times.

I mean, Mark Martin has been coming on strong, as well. There are definitely some guys back there. I don't