Jeff Gordon readies for the Brickyard in surprising return

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis and Pocono may not be the only stops on Jeff Gordon’s comeback tour.

The four-time Cup champion, who is coming out of retirement to fill in for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. the next two weekends, kept the door open to running more races if Earnhardt needs more time to recover from concussion-like symptoms.

Gordon is expected to make his season debut in Sunday’s Brickyard 400. Hendrick Motorsports has already announced Gordon will replace Earnhardt next weekend at Pocono, too.

In his first public comments since the announcement, the 44-year-old Gordon told reporters he’s done everything he can to get ready to race since returning Tuesday from a vacation in France. Gordon believes he can be competitive this weekend at Indianapolis, where he has won a record five times.

FILE – In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, Jeff Gordon climbs into his car before the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss two more races as he recovers from concussion-like symptoms and retired NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will replace him at Indianapolis and Pocono. The announcement came Wednesday, July 20, 2016, from Hendrick Motorsports, which said Earnhardt has not been cleared by doctors to drive. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/07/web1_111514998-74f7d032ea774de9823a69c19eedf8ed.jpgFILE – In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, Jeff Gordon climbs into his car before the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss two more races as he recovers from concussion-like symptoms and retired NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will replace him at Indianapolis and Pocono. The announcement came Wednesday, July 20, 2016, from Hendrick Motorsports, which said Earnhardt has not been cleared by doctors to drive. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

FILE – In this July 27, 2014, file photo, Jeff Gordon celebrates after winning the NASCAR Brickyard 400 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Gordon will get one more shot to win in Indianapolis this weekend when he replaces Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car. On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt would miss the next two weeks as he continues to battle balance issues and nausea. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/07/web1_111514998-7a3107fc9bf144cca79fcc3b15f72a9f.jpgFILE – In this July 27, 2014, file photo, Jeff Gordon celebrates after winning the NASCAR Brickyard 400 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Gordon will get one more shot to win in Indianapolis this weekend when he replaces Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car. On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt would miss the next two weeks as he continues to battle balance issues and nausea. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

FILE – In this Feb. 23, 2014, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, celebrates in Victory Lane with teammate Jeff Gordon, right, after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Gordon will get one more shot to win in Indianapolis this weekend when he replaces Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car.
On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt would miss the next two weeks as he continues to battle balance issues and nausea. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/07/web1_111514998-4c362c76610d461783bbefbd337e7f58.jpgFILE – In this Feb. 23, 2014, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, celebrates in Victory Lane with teammate Jeff Gordon, right, after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Gordon will get one more shot to win in Indianapolis this weekend when he replaces Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 car.
On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Earnhardt would miss the next two weeks as he continues to battle balance issues and nausea. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

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