Recently, reports emerged that Kyle Larson was entertaining thoughts of attempting the Indy 500. To be honest, it is not very common to see an active NASCAR driver try his hand at IndyCar. In past seasons, it was a little frowned upon because of a risk of injury, which could compromise the Cup season. However, Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman and former Cup champion Jeff Gordon is all in on drivers taking part in series other than NASCAR.

He said, “I’m not asking them to be anything they’re not. I want them to take their personality and just embrace who they are. But as a race car driver, if you don’t get outside your comfort zone, you don’t go fast. You don’t win races, and I think to do the best with the branding side and sponsorship side of the sport. I think you’ve got to do the same thing. You push yourself right outside that level of uncomfortableness.”

Jeff Gordon is waiting for the Daytona 500 to kick off

Now, the four-time Cup Series champion is hoping for his team to do well in the first race of the season. Admittedly, things didn’t go to plan at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and they lost out. However, the good news was that it was a non point-scoring race, so it does not count, technically. This weekend, the real 2022 NASCAR Cup season kicks off with the annual Daytona 500.

In NASCAR terminology, the Daytona 500 is just as important as the Indy 500. In all honesty, winning this race is practically on the bucket list of every NASCAR driver. Even participating in it evokes a special feeling; just ask Jacques Villeneuve, who qualified for the first time.

In his career, Jeff Gordon has won this iconic race three times; in 1997, 1999, and 2005. Now, he is hoping that the latest winner of this special race is a Hendrick driver.

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