Gordon living ‘new life’

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 | 10:38 a.m.

Jeff Gordon recently was the subject of a cover story in a leading national racing publication entitled "The New Jeff Gordon."

The story detailed how the four-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion has grown more comfortable in his role as the sport's biggest star.

The "new" Jeff Gordon, who is more prone to speak his mind rather than sidestep controversy and dispense politically correct answers, also is a 31-year-old whose personal life has become an open book as a result of his divorce from his wife of seven years, Brooke.

"I'll admit, life's a little bit different these days," Gordon said Monday during a break in testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "I never used to worry about whether I was in the National Enquirer; I never used to worry about personal financial things.

"But that's a part of the choices that were made (by others). It's out of my hands. I don't really have a lot to do with it; it's really in the lawyers' hands. I'm just getting through it the best way I can and living my life."

Life these days for Gordon includes having his earnings (a reported $18 million in 2001) and net worth (estimated at $48.8 million) made public.

Last week, Brooke Gordon's lawyers subpoenaed records from other NASCAR Winston Cup race teams in an attempt to discover what other drivers are earning through their contracts. Teams closely hold such information.

"It bothers the heck out of me that that's being done because I don't understand it," Gordon said. "But, again, it's out of my hands; it's in lawyers' hands and that's what they've chosen to do and take that path.

"It's not something I agree with but I've done everything I could to try to keep it out of that and I haven't been successful."

According to an Associated Press report, Gordon unsuccessfully tried to get a Florida judge to require that his estranged wife and anyone else involved in the divorce proceedings to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Instead, Gordon seems resigned to the fact that his personal life no longer is personal and that his divorce will continue to be fodder for the tabloid and mainstream press.

Nevertheless, Gordon isn't exactly complaining about his lot in life.

"I look at the brighter side of things a whole lot more than I look at the down side so I don't complain too much about being Jeff Gordon," he said. "I'm having fun. I'm certainly enjoying a lot of the parts of my life and racing's good, the team's great, so I have no complaints."

As far as being more open and opinionated than in the past, Gordon said that is a byproduct of his experience and success on the track.

"I guess it's just being around and I've accomplished pretty much I ever wanted to accomplish," said Gordon, whose 61 wins rank seventh all-time in NASCAR. "I love the sport, I have a passion for it and I don't mind sharing my thoughts and feelings (about) it.

"When you get criticized for always saying the right (things) or always wanting to be politically correct, sometimes you get tired of being like that, too.""