SONOMA, Calif. --- Dressed in a nice suit and looking very comfortable trackside at Sonoma Raceway -- Jeff Gordon addressed the media before his final FOX Sports race broadcast of the season, Sunday's Toyota - Save Mart 350.
The Northern California native spoke about his first season behind the microphone instead of behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet in 24 years. He's been a popular addition to the FOX broadcast booth and the love goes both ways -- even as Gordon's maiden television season has certainly presented a couple of high profile talking points.
The four-time Cup champion addressed rumors he may join Kelly Ripa on the hugely popular LIVE with Kelly daily morning show. He's been a popular and often-tapped co-host and now that he's not racing fulltime Gordon admitted he would be open to the idea -- only if it was concurrent to his job as FOX Sports broadcaster, something he has grown fond of.
"I'm flattered that my name has been associated with that,’’ Gordon said, adding, "I had a great time cohosting on that show, and I mean, I certainly would welcome it.
"My priority is FOX and FOX Sports and NASCAR, so I will definitely be back in the booth next year."
Gordon also spoke out about his recent and well-publicized disagreement with driver Brad Keselowski over comments Gordon made about the 2012 champ during the recent Pocono race weekend.
Gordon said the two have spoken recently and politely agreed to disagree.
"You know, honestly, I love what Brad brings to the sport," Gordon said. "I think that he maybe feels or felt like I carried over some of that animosity from our run‑in on the race track and the issue in Texas, but it's actually quite the opposite. I've put that aside, and I really like what he brings and his unique perspective on the sport.
"I don't necessarily think the same way that he does. I don't know a lot of people that do. But I think that it's really interesting, and I like hearing it, and I like seeing it.
"I was a little bit caught off guard by some of his perspectives because on one hand, I hear him talking about journalism, and I don't consider myself a journalist, I'll be honest. I guess there's a part of what we do that's journalism, but just being an analyst, covering a live race and just trying to talk about what's happening out there, even if it's video, I think it's slightly different.
"The integrity to me is I've got to call it the way I see it, and if it comes across on the screen, then I want to do the best I can for the viewers to analyze it."
Gordon conceded that as a current car owner -- in partnership with his former boss Rick Hendrick on the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson -- and the immediate former driver of the No. 24 car that rookie Chase Elliott steers -- there are some inherent aspects of the sport he naturally pays lots of attention to.
"There's no doubt I have some bias, and I think everybody does in some way, and so that part I agree with him (Keselowski)," Gordon said. "Yeah, there's times when it's hard for me not to want to talk about Chase Elliott or one of the Hendrick drivers when they're doing something good, but I'll talk about them when they're doing something bad, too.
"I love what Brad brings, and we had a nice conversation, and it made for good TV to be honest. And I think Brad and I have more common respect that came out of it, even though we don't agree on all of the things."
With Gordon's retirement at the end of 2015 and three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart's impending retirement at the end of this year, Gordon acknowledged there will be a certain amount of veteran void upcoming in the series.
And it could change the tenor of the garage. That was definitely evident on Friday as Stewart strongly criticized some of the drivers for their efforts on track during practice session.
"Let's talk Tony into sticking around a little longer then because obviously it sounds like we need him," Gordon said, smiling. "That's what he can do. He's one of the few, I think, that has that ability.
"What I do relate to with Tony is frustrations as you get later in your career. You know, I think all of us as we get older, our tempers and our ‑‑ I guess our fuse -- just gets a little bit shorter and you lose patience, and I don't know if that's just when you get into the later stages of your career or if it's just getting older and part of it."
Gordon certainly seems genuinely happy with his career transition -- acknowledging there has been a lot to learn but also a lot to enjoy.
Gordon said he will still make many of the season's second half races and will keep plenty busy promoting the release of his biography "Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive & Destiny" written by "New York Times" bestselling author Joe Garner.
"As far as the actual part of being in the booth, I guess I'm somewhat surprised that it's gone as well as it has," Gordon said. "I think it's gone better than I expected. I'm enjoying it far more than I expected.
"I thought, oh, boy, this is so much outside of my comfort zone and what I've done for so many years that it's going to take me a while to get comfortable with it, and yet ‑‑ and I give a lot to credit to DW (Darrell Waltrip), Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Barry Landis and Artie Kempner. There's a lot of people. They've really welcomed me and made me feel very, very comfortable right away. That transition has just gone better, I guess, than anticipated."