Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Gordon embraces role as respected veteran

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 9:14 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

FONTANA, Calif. -- Jeff Gordon is enjoying his 30s much more than he did his 20s.

Gordon, who won three of his four NASCAR championships before he turned 30, isn't dominating Nextel Cup racing the way he did from 1995 to 1999, when he won 47 races and three championships. At 32, Gordon said he likes his role as one of NASCAR's respected veterans.

"I like the role that I'm in; I feel like I have a voice -- and some people listen to it -- and that's a nice thing," Gordon said after his victory in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

"There's nothing better than having respect in this garage area and it has taken me a long time to get it, so I'm enjoying that very, very much."

Gordon said he even relishes the attention that he receives as being one of NASCAR's most visible drivers -- as long as that attention comes from his accomplishments on the racetrack.

"I like (the) attention because I did something good on the racetrack," he said. "I like getting attention because we won (races). I like getting attention because we won the championships. Sometimes I feel for guys like Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. because he's got a lot of weight on his shoulders and an awful lot of pressure and that can be tough.

"I am enjoying my 30s far more than I ever thought that I would because I'm comfortable with myself, I'm comfortable with the role that I'm in. I don't need to be the guy on the headlines every single weekend -- I only want to be there if I did something worthy of (the media) putting it there.

Although Gordon may feel he has the respect of other drivers in the garage, that isn't always the case with race fans. Two weeks ago at Talladega, his No. 24 Chevrolet was pelted with beer cans from fans angry over a.) the fact NASCAR ran the final five laps under caution and b.) the fact that NASCAR determined that Earnhardt had not passed Gordon before the final caution came out, handing the victory to Gordon.

On Sunday, a lone fan at California Speedway tossed a plastic beer bottle at Gordon's car after he had taken the checkered flag for the second week in a row.

"First of all, I'm not going to get out of the car and go up and climb the fence like Helio (Castroneves) -- I think I would be in trouble then," Gordon joked, acknowledging that there are fans who detest seeing him win.

"I think it's a tradition now for me, for when I win, that things are going to be thrown onto the track."

Gordon said he would like to see officials at all track post signs warning against throwing objects onto the racing surface.

"I don't care if they throw anything when that race is over but before that race is over -- that's my concern, is that if it does happen before the race is over, then we've got a serious issue there," Gordon said. "Hopefully, the tracks can start taking action and maybe put some signs up that maybe legal action will be taken if anything is thrown over that fence.

"I think it's a good idea to take some action and be proactive instead of reactive after it happens."

Kyle Petty, on the other hand, said over the weekend that NASCAR should not go back to Talladega because of what transpired at the end of the race.

"The fans obviously had their heads up their rear ends about throwing stuff out on the racetrack," Petty said. "Those weren't fans. We have fans that are huge NASCAR Nextel fans (and) those people that threw stuff on the track are not fans.

"They didn't come to see a race. They were disappointed that they didn't see what they thought they should have seen. I understand that. I've been to the movies and I didn't throw my popcorn at the screen when the movie didn't end like I wanted. That's just not the way you act in this society."

Lynch, whose Dodge Intrepid is prepared by Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing, qualified fifth for the 100-lap race but started at the rear of the field after the team changed engines prior to the race. Lynch finished third behind Nextel Cup veteran Ken Schrader and Busch Series regular Clint Bowyer.

Lynch, the defending series champion, trails front-runner Scott Gaylord by 39 points after three of 13 races.