Despite '08 troubles, Gordon set to contend for title

I think it is much to soon to say whether someone is back or gone. Since they have added the chase to the mix it all comes down to where you are when we reach those last 10 races. In the past people who have started strong failed to close the deal and those who were pretty quiet came on strong in the chase. I will wait until the chase to make any predictions of my own. it's much to soon to tell.

For the last 17 seasons, NASCAR fans have watched Jeff Gordon grow up in front of their eyes.
Since winning his first Cup championship in 1995, Gordon's voice has held authority. When outspoken, his arguments are calculated and smoothly delivered. When he or his team's ability or determination is questioned, the response remains positive and upbeat.
Sunday night's postrace comments by the second-place finisher at Auto Club Speedway carried a similar tone, yet with an enthusiasm that was so genuine it was apparent that the old Jeff Gordon was back.
Gordon graciously congratulated winner Matt Kenseth, but the confidence of the four-time champion beamed with the expectation that a fifth title could be just 34 races away.
"We were awesome in every way tonight with this DuPont Chevrolet," Gordon said."I'm really excited on one side and I'm really upset on the other because I felt like we had an opportunity to win this race."
Gordon not only had an opportunity to win the Auto Club 500, he skillfully picked off one car at a time beginning with his teammate Jimmie Johnson on Lap 78 after the No. 48 Chevrolet had dominated by leading 74 laps prior to being passed in Turn 2.
Gordon then challenged both Kenseth and his teammate Greg Biffle, who led the charge among the Roush Fenway racers. Biffle radioed to his crew that Gordon "murdered" him through Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 140 as he watched the No. 24 car carve its way around the track. When Gordon was in clean air at the point, Kenseth had similar issues catching him through Turns 1 and 2.
But a swift final pit stop with adjustments to improve the No. 17 car's grip enabled Kenseth to retake the lead out of the pits and maintain that position to the finish. Gordon couldn't get the car to turn in the closing laps, but his ability to work every groove on the track was amazing.
"I put a lot of heat on him," Gordon said. "I drove as hard as I've driven in a long time."
Gordon lost the battle, but the war is far from over. He was strong during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, showing signs of improvement from winning his Gatorade Duels qualifying race to leading 14 laps in the Daytona 500 before the rain-shortened event left him in 13th place.
As solid and competitive as Gordon's car was in Fontana, Calif., on Sunday night, there's a renewed promise for the driver who struggled trying to find a comfort level with the new model last season.
"It's bittersweet, but we've got to come away from this with a lot of positive feelings because man we're a long ways ahead of where we were this time last year," Gordon said following the race. "I'm pumped. I'm real excited about this whole season.
"I can't wait to get to Vegas. This car is awesome fast. We showed it at Daytona and we showed it here today. I'm so proud of (crew chief) Steve Letarte and all these guys. They work so hard and they've taken a lot of heat over the last year. Over this offseason, he restructured his engineering group. He went to work on the cars, on the setups, listening to me and what I feel like I need. Those guys worked hard. And they've got what it takes this year to give me the stuff and it is a privilege to drive."
Letarte was forced to reassess his program after the team went winless last season for the first time since 1993 — Gordon's rookie year. Despite qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup and finishing seventh in the point standings, the No. 24 team did not experience the consistency which has been its trademark in the past.
Over 17 seasons, Gordon has only finished outside of the top 10 in standings twice. His worst showing was 14th his freshman year. While Letarte stayed away from that mark in 2008, he has come under fire in the past and 2008 served as a wakeup call.

"I think the biggest lesson I learned last year, it's very hard to evaluate a program when you have a successful program like we had in '07 (when they scored six wins), where last year it was easier to come in and change anything and everything when you really have no success to lean on," Letarte said. "No different than we did in '05. We missed the Chase. It was very easy to change anything. Nothing was sacred. There was nothing sacred. I think maybe me, including other people, but I'll take the brunt of it, maybe I got back on my heels and made some things a little too sacred that didn't need to be.
"We've since changed all those. Anything can change to make the car go fast. We'll change any of the above to make it go fast."
The adjustments have paid off. Gordon is second in the point standings and currently trails Kenseth by 81 markers. For Gordon, losing is the best motivation.
"It's called getting beat and not liking it," Gordon said. "When you're at Hendrick Motorsports, you see your teammate doing what they're doing, winning races, battling for the championship, winning the championship. It's inspiring to all the other teams. At the 24 Dupont Chevrolet team, we've been there before and we've experienced that, even in '07, as strong as we were. But '08 was very disappointing. Probably the biggest motivation we could have ever had. We just went to work."
Certainly, the champ has experienced tremendous change over the last year with a new wife and baby to enrich his life. Still, Gordon remains a competitor. His goal since the Chase for the Championship was introduced in 2004 was to win titles under the old and new formats. If his early results are any indication, then Gordon's potential for a fifth championship are promising.
"I changed my routine, too. I've worked harder over this offseason getting myself in shape than I have in a long time. I'm refocused. I'm a little bit more used to being a dad now. I'm just ready. I feel better today going in and after the race than I felt in a long time. I've battled some back issues and some different things. I've been working really hard on those things. It's paying off. I mean, I just feel good when I get in the car. The car is driving good. It's just starting off right. I think we only have room for improvement."