Jeff Gordon takes a break during Rolex 24 testing Thursday at Daytona. Credit: Daytona International Speedway

Gordon gets familiar with Daytona road course

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Gordon is usually turning laps at Daytona International Speedway on the famed 2.5-mile tri-oval.

However on Thursday, for the first time in his career, Gordon was behind the wheel of a sports car, tackling the twists and turns of the 3.56-mile Daytona road course.

WHAT'S WITH THE BANDAGE? Jeff Gordon was wearing a bandage on his right hand Thursday, but for more of a precautionary reason than any injury.  He also didn't miss a chance to poke fun at his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who broke his wrist in December when he fell off the top of a golf cart at a charity event.  "Yeah, blisters," Gordon said. "I didn't have any wrist injuries and I haven't been to the golf course lately."  In fact, a Hendrick Nextel Cup team representative said Gordon has always bandaged his right hand for stock car road races because he aggressively shifts it to avoid missing shifts. His sports car crew told him that wasn't necessary with a sequential shifter prototype.  -- Dave Rodman

During the first day of the three-day Rolex 24 At Daytona test session, Gordon, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, was behind the wheel of the No. 10 car as he continues preparation for his first start in the race that begins on Jan. 27.

Gordon will share the driving duties with car owner/driver Wayne Taylor and Italian Max Angelelli in the twice-around-the-clock challenge that kicks off the Rolex Sports Car Series season.

While Gordon was able to test the car in early December at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his first road course laps at DIS have been educational.

"It's really been a great experience," Gordon said. "I had an idea of what to expect with the car by doing Homestead but I've never been on this road course before and it's pretty challenging track to learn. That last time out I was getting a good feel for it. I'm with the right team. I'm having fun and enjoying it. It's a lot different peeling off that banking at the start/finish line than turning into the infield.

Gordon participated in two shifts on Thursday and had a third shift planned later in the afternoon. He will continue Rolex 24 testing on Friday.

"The first shift I wasn't [comfortable with the times]," Gordon said. "I was a little disappointed but the second shift the speeds started to come and I'm going to get more laps later this afternoon. I'm feeling pretty good about it."

For Gordon, a Rolex 24 victory would be his 13th at Daytona, tying him for fifth on the all-time DIS wins list with Hurley Haywood and Richard Petty.

Gordon could also join Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to have won the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24, although Andretti's 1972 Rolex 24 win wasn't a 24-hour race.