[tkj24]

New family, new energy have Jeff Gordon loving life


James Johnson
Staff writer



(August 10, 2007) — Take Jeff Gordon out of race cars, place him next to superstars of other sports and it's clear who is having a better year.

Football's Michael Vick? Dogged by legal troubles. Basketball's Kobe Bryant? Not so sure that he loves L.A., as in the Los Angeles Lakers, anymore.

And most baseball fans seem to have a few choice words for Barry Bonds — no asterisks needed.

The messiest thing Gordon has faced? Diaper duty. Ella Sofia Gordon, the daughter of the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and wife Ingrid Vandebosch, will be 2 months old on Aug. 20.

"I'm 36," said Gordon, who celebrated his birthday last Saturday. "At this point in my life, I've accomplished all the things that I've ever set out to do. I'm still a competitive person, but I'm not feeling like I'm missing out on something.

"To me, it's perfect timing in my life to be a father, because I want to be involved, I want to be there. I'm excited about all the aspects of it and the challenges that come along with it, and there certainly are."

Changing diapers can be a dirty job, but anyone who smiles the way Gordon does while describing the experience is having a good year, indeed.

A fifth Cup series championship for Gordon — and first in six years — is in reach. He leads NASCAR's Nextel Cup standings with five races to go before the 10-race Chase for the Cup playoffs begin.

Watkins Glen International is the next track on the schedule, a road course where Gordon has won four times. It would be no surprise if Gordon extends his series record for wins on road courses to 10, if he can earn his first win at the Glen since 2001.

"We've lost a little bit of our advantage at Watkins Glen that we had a few years back," Gordon said. "I'm hoping that we get that back with this new Car (of Tomorrow) with our tests.

"I feel good; I feel that we're going to be strong, so I'm anxious."

Gordon has good reason to believe things will work out for the better instead of going wrong. Consider the result of perhaps his team's most embarrassing moment of the season.

The cars of Gordon and Rick Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson failed inspections before the qualifying session at Sonoma, Calif., in late June.

Steve Letarte, Gordon's crew chief, was suspended for six races. NASCAR also handed the same punishment to Chad Knauss, Johnson's crew chief, and took 100 points away from both drivers.

Gordon's lead in the standings was 171 points after NASCAR handed out the suspensions and fines. His lead over Denny Hamlin has grown to 366 points since Letarte was banned from the garage and Jeff Meendering was appointed interim crew chief.

Letarte, who can have contact with Gordon's team away from NASCAR tracks, must also sit out this weekend at the Glen — the sixth and final race of his suspension.

Hendrick drivers, including Gordon, tested cars last week at Road Atlanta in preparation for this weekend at the Glen.

"So he got to come to the racetrack," said Gordon of Letarte. "That was a big deal for him, and he worked me pretty hard because of it. He told me he was going to.

"He's handling (his suspension) well. I think he's been able to capitalize on not being there and he's also been able to work on some things at the shop.

"One thing about our team that's always been there is that we try to turn a positive out of a negative."

Johnson is not surprised that Gordon has extended his lead in the point standings.

"He's always been a content guy and a very focused guy," Johnson said. "Through his marriage and now being a father, he's even ramped up more in those areas. That's going to be hard on the competition.

"He's always been a guy who has been very balanced, almost wise beyond his years in the way that he's taught me things."

Gordon has taken lumps in public.

His divorce from Brooke Sealey in 2003 after seven years of marriage was messy and cost him millions of dollars. Gordon said he was in no hurry to charge into another serious relationship.

"I held off as long as I possibly could," Gordon said. "Because I met Ingrid and I knew that she was an amazing woman, I told her, 'Please be patient, because I don't want to lose you, but at the same time I'm not ready.'

"We hit it off right away, but that was in 2002 when I met her (through mutual friends). We hung out, stayed in touch and talked, but we really didn't start dating until '05."

Vandebosch, a Belgian model and actress, and Gordon were married last November.

"Life has never been better for me than it is right now," said Gordon, who has won four races this season, tied with Johnson for most in the series. "I'm happy because I've got a new relationship, we're married with a baby and so that can't be any better. On the racetrack, things are going great as well.

"We just haven't been as competitive as we needed to be over the last few years, and it's been frustrating. I've had it be good on one side, not so good on the other, but I've never had them come together at the same time, and it's pretty amazing."

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com

[MCdricas]

It has been difficult for Gordon the past few years.. But I believe soon enough things will start turning the corner for him.

-MC

[wardfan]

sounds like something I would read in teen beat magazine. WHO CARES

[Lefty Noob]

Well, speaking as someone who's been bogged down in the Michael Vick stuff elsewhere on the board, sometimes happy family stories are just fine.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by wardfan

sounds like something I would read in teen beat magazine. WHO CARES

That only re-enforces my theory that the media wants bad news that sells. Someones good life and sweet news means nothing to the tabloid readers.

[wardfan]

you guys are missing my point. Its like Jeff Gordon is the only driver to ever had a kid. Jeez, they probably got a full time nanny, they travel around in the million dollar motor home. Boy how rough.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by wardfan

you guys are missing my point. Its like Jeff Gordon is the only driver to ever had a kid. Jeez, they probably got a full time nanny, they travel around in the million dollar motor home. Boy how rough.

No I get your point. With the way the media and all done, you'd think him and his wife was the first ones to ever have a kid. Well congrats to them, but they're not the only ones. Hasn't other drivers and all had a kid this year? Yes they have, but it wasn't a big deal made about it every week.

[LSC9901]

I don't feel the point you're making is being missed. The media realizes that many people want to know all about celebrities. Lets face it, the family sitting 24 rows up in turn 4 offer zero interest to the public. They will continue to run with this story as long as it sells and as long as the public is foolish enough to read it.

[jks812]

I think that's the biggest reason alot of folks don't like Gordon. It's not really him. It's just that no matter what happens or where he runs on the track, it's such a big deal, when really it's not. Just like this baby stuff. But maybe they making such a big deal out of the baby stuff trying to prove that obviously "rainbow warrior" doesn't mean the same thing with Gordon as it does in the real world.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by wardfan

sounds like something I would read in teen beat magazine. WHO CARES

Ditto......

[bears9]

I would love life too if i was married to Ingrid Vandebosch

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by wardfan

you guys are missing my point. Its like Jeff Gordon is the only driver to ever had a kid. Jeez, they probably got a full time nanny, they travel around in the million dollar motor home. Boy how rough.

actually they travel around in his $??M Gulfstream jet. but they do stay in the motorhome when at the track.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by wardfan

you guys are missing my point. Its like Jeff Gordon is the only driver to ever had a kid. Jeez, they probably got a full time nanny, they travel around in the million dollar motor home. Boy how rough.

Aah but he is probably the only driver to marry a super model (besides Dario Franchitti)

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think that's the biggest reason alot of folks don't like Gordon. It's not really him. It's just that no matter what happens or where he runs on the track, it's such a big deal, when really it's not. Just like this baby stuff. But maybe they making such a big deal out of the baby stuff trying to prove that obviously "rainbow warrior" doesn't mean the same thing with Gordon as it does in the real world.

There's the truth in all this. The media makes a huge deal about everything Gordon does. I have not seen an instance where he has actively tried to steal the limelight just because he can. Somehow this media attention translates into serious dislike. I just don't get that. He does not control the media, but he is truly hated because they give him so much attention. Why is that his fault?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by bears9

I would love life too if i was married to Ingrid Vandebosch

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I don't find her to be the most beautiful. Attractive I'm sure ... just not to me. Supermodel is a media status.