Jeff Gordon poses with the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy. Credit: Autostock

Gordon's winning car goes on display

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- For the third time, Jeff Gordon's Daytona 500-winning car will spend a year inside Daytona USA.

Final lapsJeff Gordon holds on to win an exciting finish at the Daytona 500 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

The No. 24 Chevrolet will rest inside Gatorade Victory Lane for the next 364 days and will be returned to the team before the start of the 48th Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2006.

Gordon and his crew chief Robbie Loomis participated in a fan forum as enthusiastic race fans huddled together in the motorsports attraction. Gordon and Loomis also received their winning Daytona 500 leather jackets from Speedway President Robin Braig and Gatorade presented the 2005 Daytona 500 champ with a framed photo from the Victory Lane celebration.

Another Daytona 500 tradition continued with the signing of the car by Gordon and his crew. But the Hendrick Motorsports crew added a new twist. Last week, Hendrick Motorsports mechanics who worked on the No. 24 car back at the shop in North Carolina signed a white paneled sticker just in case the car won the Daytona 500. That sticker now rests on bumper of the car.

	Jeff Gordon
	Inside the Numbers Active Cup drivers' victories Rank Driver Wins 1. Jeff Gordon 70 2. Rusty Wallace 55 3. Mark Martin 34 4. Dale Jarrett 31 5. Ricky Rudd 23

"They made up a panel and had everybody sign it," Gordon said. "You can call it cocky, confidence of whatever you want to call it. They wanted that car to be in Daytona USA and for people to look at it the next 364 days. We go into this event hoping we're going to lose that car."

Following his induction ceremonies, Gordon will handle media obligations that come with a Daytona 500 victory in both New York and in California. Included in the many appearances he's expected to make are "Live with Regis and Kelly" and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno".

"I'm really excited about enjoying the moment," Gordon said. "To me what makes it so worth while is being able to spend the time with the guys while the moment is still there. Last night once we got through inspection and everything, we were certainly able to enjoy that moment and just reminisce about what a great victory it was.

"Now I get a chance to talk about that a lot more the rest of the week and continue to reminisce about it. It's going to be a hectic week."