Team: Dale Jr. out, Jeff Gordon in No. 88 at Indianapolis
Jeff Gordon is not done after all.
The recently retired Hendrick Motorsports driver will compete for the first time this year Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. , who will be sidelined for the second consecutive week due to concussion-like symptoms, according to a team release.
Earnhardt Jr. also missed last Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Alex Bowman piloted his No. 88 Chevrolet as a replacement, but Hendrick general manager Doug Duchardt revealed last week thatGordon would sub for Earnhardt at Indianapolis if needed.
Gordon retired at the end of the 2015 season and joined the FOX broadcast booth. Sunday will be his 798th Sprint Cup Series start, and his first in a number other than the 24 he made so iconic.
Gordon's history at the Brickyard makes him a natural pick for Sunday's Crown Royal Presents The Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, IMS, SiriusXM). The four-time series champion has a NASCAR-record five Indy wins, the most recent coming in 2014.
Earnhardt consulted with doctors this week after missing last weekend's New Hampshire 301. On Monday, the 41-year-old driver provided an update on his condition during his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast, saying that he had been struggling with balance and nausea in the days leading up to the New Hampshire event.
Earnhardt also said Monday that there was no firm timetable for his return. NASCAR officials indicated last weekend that the sanctioning body would require notice from an independent board-certified neurologist with at least five years' experience in the field of sports-related head injuries before Earnhardt would be cleared to return to competition.
NASCAR has made neurocognitive testing mandatory for its drivers since 2013.
Earnhardt also missed time in the 2012 season after sustaining two concussions in a six-week stretch. Regan Smith replaced him for two races -- Charlotte and Kansas -- in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs that year.
After sitting out last weekend, Earnhardt slipped two spots to 15th in the Sprint Cup driver standings, also fading to the 16th and final spot in the provisional Chase postseason grid.
This story will be updated.
Jeff Gordon is not done after all.
The recently retired Hendrick Motorsports driver will compete for the first time this year Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. , who will be sidelined for the second consecutive week due to concussion-like symptoms, according to a team release.
Earnhardt Jr. also missed last Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Alex Bowman piloted his No. 88 Chevrolet as a replacement, but Hendrick general manager Doug Duchardt revealed last week thatGordon would sub for Earnhardt at Indianapolis if needed.
Gordon retired at the end of the 2015 season and joined the FOX broadcast booth. Sunday will be his 798th Sprint Cup Series start, and his first in a number other than the 24 he made so iconic.
Gordon's history at the Brickyard makes him a natural pick for Sunday's Crown Royal Presents The Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, IMS, SiriusXM). The four-time series champion has a NASCAR-record five Indy wins, the most recent coming in 2014.
Earnhardt consulted with doctors this week after missing last weekend's New Hampshire 301. On Monday, the 41-year-old driver provided an update on his condition during his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast, saying that he had been struggling with balance and nausea in the days leading up to the New Hampshire event.
Earnhardt also said Monday that there was no firm timetable for his return. NASCAR officials indicated last weekend that the sanctioning body would require notice from an independent board-certified neurologist with at least five years' experience in the field of sports-related head injuries before Earnhardt would be cleared to return to competition.
NASCAR has made neurocognitive testing mandatory for its drivers since 2013.
Earnhardt also missed time in the 2012 season after sustaining two concussions in a six-week stretch. Regan Smith replaced him for two races -- Charlotte and Kansas -- in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs that year.
After sitting out last weekend, Earnhardt slipped two spots to 15th in the Sprint Cup driver standings, also fading to the 16th and final spot in the provisional Chase postseason grid.
This story will be updated.
