Jeff Gordon led the series in top-10s, average finish, races led, wins from the pole, races leading the most laps and points earned during the Chase. Credit: Autostock

Preview: J. Gordon

Continuing to compete for the championship is team's goal

LAS VEGAS -- Jeff Gordon says the real impact of the plane crash that killed 10 members of the Hendrick Motorsports family last October was felt not long after the checkered flag fell on the 2004 season.

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"I think we were just numb through the last few races (of 2004) because there was always a race the next weekend," Gordon said. "Once the offseason hit, it sunk in a little more.

"The business continued to move."

That is to say, replacements had to be made in key positions in the Hendrick hierarchy. Now, with preparations for 2005 well under way, Gordon is confident his team won't lose a step.

"Rick (Hendrick) is fortunate to have great people around him," Gordon said. "I'm really proud of how that transition has gone.

"We're in a great place right now."

The No. 24 bunch was in a pretty good place in 2004. Gordon led the Nextel Cup Series in top-10s, average finish, races led, wins from the Bud Pole, races leading the most laps and points earned during the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

If the 2004 season were run under the 2003 points system, Gordon would have been the champion.

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If anything, Gordon says the team might have tried a little too hard to get ready for the Chase.

"We may have put a few too many tests at the end of the year," he said. "We spent the last few races before the Chase doing a lot of testing because we knew we were already in it.

"I think it's a balance of being prepared for those last 10 races and making sure you're in it."

While many Cup teams spent the offseason sweating over NASCAR's spoiler modifications and Goodyear's new tire compound, Gordon says he's thrilled with the changes and says they may help him return to the dominance that helped make him a household name.

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"The grip level seems to be pretty good," said Gordon. "I am interested to see how much it is going to drop off when we make a lot of laps.

"I think it will make for better racing and it allows our team to perform better as well," Gordon said. "That is where we are at our best -- when we have to get the car handling well."

At the end of the day, Gordon says he's expects the same amount of effort from his team in 2005 and hopefully for him and his team, a little more success.

"Our communication was good," Gordon said. "It's hard to control everything. I'd really like to see us continue to be put in that position where we can compete for the championship."

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