Auto Racing

"Being up front is the only place to be."

"Because the sport has changed, competition is not only stronger but it's deeper throughout the field than it's ever been. It's harder to win."

"Ever since I've been racing, I've always been the young guy."

"For some reason, no matter what happens in my life, I always seem to have a piece of my heart that says everything is going to be okay."

"I definitely get pumped up when I hear a crowd cheering for me."

"I don't feel like I've really changed. Maybe I have let people see more of me than in the past."

"I feel like I'm getting to be a better driver every day."

"In our business, just getting to 40 means something...that's why I think sometimes you have to just live in the moment. You have to enjoy life to its fullest."

"I've been racing a long time, and I realize you go through good streaks and bad streaks."

"I want this team to feel like a unit, like a family."

"Jimmie [Johnson] and I don't have any secrets. I've been in this sport a long time, and I've never been closer to anyone."

"No matter what happens, I'll always say that I've had a wonderful life."

"The two places where I go where I hear more cheers than boos are Indianapolis and Sears Point."

"Yeah, I've made some mistakes. Every guy makes mistakes."

"Gordon bathes regularly, appears to be familiar with toothpaste, owns footwear, doesn't chew, play the banjo or own a huntin' dawg. Just what planet is this guy from?" - Jeff Olson

"He always was the key to his team's success. Now, finally, I think he realizes that." - Ray Evernham

"I told people for years one reason Jeff Gordon was so hard to beat was because his life was uncomplicated...Life was Never-Never Land. Now he's like every other driver. He's a human being." - Benny Parsons

"Jeff and I share everything. We're constantly talking." - Jimmie Johnson

"Jeff and Jimmie are definitely the guys to beat. They're perfect teammates. They help each other by exchanging ideas and information. And it's not easy to be good teammates. Trust me, over the years there have been a lot of teammates who couldn't stand each other." - Jimmy Spencer

"Jeff can fit more in a millisecond than anybody else. He has a different sense of time than the rest of us." - Ray Evernham

"Jeff Gordon handles himself off the racetrack better than any other driver." - Jamie McMurray

"Jeff has the ability to see things on the racetrack in slow motion. His hand-eye coordination is just unbelievable." - Brian Whitesell

"Jeff's probably as good as any driver who's ever been." - Dale Jarrett

"There are only two drivers in the world-Michael Schumacher and Jeff Gordon." - Ray Evernham

"The bottom line is, you put Jeff Gordon in the car and it's going to run better." - Robbie Loomis

"You realize those aren't index fingers and wonder why NASCAR fans hate Jeff Gordon. He's young and good looking and wins like crazy. What's not to love? For starters, he's young and good looking and wins like crazy." - Matt Crossman