Jeff Gordon exclusive

Skysports.com spoke to the NASCAR legend as he prepares to defend his Dodge Challenger 500 crown...

This season's been a tough start for you. What can happen for you to turn it round?

JG: I think we've got a lot of hard work ahead of us. We've been working hard and trying to figure it out. We were strong last year and sometimes it can go against you. We're just off a little bit. We're having a slow start to the season, but hopefully we'll get into stride mid-season and have a strong end of season.

How are things working out with Dale Earnhardt Jr, the new addition to the Hendrick Motorsports family?

JG: He's been a great addition to our team. No matter where he drives he'll always be the most popular driver. It's been about building a line of communication. In order to go fast we have to share info and communicate well. But all in all, things are going really well.

You've got a part-ownership of Jimmie Johnson's car - talk to us about that.

JG: People don't realise that I own an equal part of my car and his car. It's unique. I have equity in all of Hendrick Motorsports. I have a lot of interest in what happens in Hendrick on and off the racetrack. I treat my teammates the same way I did before I was an equity owner. The equity comes into play off the racetrack, when you look at the big picture. I've been very proud of how Jimmie's team has come along and has won back-to-back championships. Although it was frustrating not winning it all, at the end of the day I'm proud I was part of it.

Toyota's arrival in NASCAR has become a big success? How's this impacting Chevrolet?

JG: I think it's gone the way I expected it to. As long at Toyota was with inexperienced teams it would be slow to pick up. But when it goes to a successful team like it did with Joe Gibbs Racing [home of Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin], I could see it as a success. That is what has happened. We have great input into Chevrolet. But I always rely on Hendrick Motorsports to set us apart from the rest.

Darlington's always been known as the track that was 'too tough to tame'. But now it's been repaved, how has that changed the track?

JG: We did two "tyre tests" here testing the new Goodyear tyres. It's smooth and has a lot of grip. This first race will be tough to pass on but it's something that was necessary. There were a lot of cracks and bumps on the surface that needed changing. They kept the same old Darlington, but it's smooth and with a lot of grip. Hopefully we have a tire that'll do the job. The track time we've got was helpful, and I hope that benefits us. We learned some things - and one that this track is going to be very tough this weekend.

What are the keys to the track?

JG: You are going to have to have a lot of patience at Darlington. Pit strategy's going to be key. You might have a faster racecar, but you've got to have a lot of patience. Attrition's going to be big at Darlington. You have to be around at the end. Qualifying or playing pit strategy's going to be key. If there's any early caution, the top five or six drivers have to decide if it's time to pit - tyre wear's not going to be a problem. For the cars behind the tenth position, it's a no-brainer - you have to pit. And if you're at the back, you do the opposite of what the leaders do.

NASCAR vs OPEN WHEEL

JG: I'm a big Formula One fan and I love watching it. I'm amazed by the performance of the cars. NASCAR would be F1 cars with fenders and bumpers, and cars with much stricter rules. Our rules don't allow us to separate us from the teams. I don't know if anyone's going to catch Ferrari! In NASCAR, that's not the case, if not more. I wish I was driving an F1 car, but I love the competition in the way our races play out - particularly for the fans.

FAVOURITE TRACK

JG: I've always been a fan of Michigan. Very wide, multiple grooves and fast. No matter how the car is balanced out, you can change it by running at the bottom of the track. It offers great racing!

The old Bristol was a track where you've had a lot of success - but the new one changed the dynamics of the racetrack. Which one did you prefer - the new or the old?

JG: I like the old Bristol, and I like the new Bristol. The difference between the new and old was the old you beat and bang people out of the way. But with the new one you can pass, and if you have the better line you can overtake on it. But Bristol will still have the cautions. It's still hard to mess that place up.

Since Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in 2001 at Daytona it has been said that NASCAR has really improved their safety measures. In what way?

JG: Since 2001 things have greatly improved. We look at the structure of things differently. At Hendrick we've put in carbon fibre seats that other teams are now incorporating, and there's the new padding, the HANS device and anchoring for the seatbelts. Those are areas we've improved and can continue to get better at.

And the barriers?

JG: The 'safer' barriers have been just amazing. I hit the wall in Vegas and there was no safer barrier. There shouldn't be any wall on a racetrack that DOESN'T have a safer barrier. The sport's grown enough where we shouldn't have to have a safer barrier.

A lot of NASCAR drivers, including yourself, have been involved in charities. Tell us about the ethos involved in the charitable world trackside.

JG: Every one of us has been touched by an experience which touches our hearts and has inspired us to give back to a community or worldwide. And when you've been touched by that you want to give back. For me personally, my crew chief's son was diagnosed by leukaemia, and ever since I've been involved in creating my own charity. A lot of drivers give back. We're fortunate to be in these positions. It's a no brainer. When you've been as successful as we have you always have the opportunity to do more. (www.jeffgordonfoundation.org)