Daytona 500: Jeff Gordon drives pace car at Daytona International Speedway

Jeff Gordon got back in the car at Daytona International Speedway to lead the 40-car Daytona 500 field onto the track.

NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon led the 40-car field onto the track ahead of the Daytona 500. In the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Gordon paced the field as the drivers warmed up their vehicles before the green flag was waved.

The Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of NASCAR races and Daytona International Speedway is one of the sport’s most historic tracks. Gordon, who is an obvious choice for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, subbed for Dale Earnhardt Jr. after he sustained a concussion mid-season in 2016. Gordon was a logical choice to drive the Daytona 500 pace car. It’s an honor for anyone to fill that role.

While Gordon has done a great job with Fox Sports’ NASCAR coverage in 2016 and this season as well, he came across like a little kid on Sunday. He got to return to the iconic track and drive a pretty cool Chevy car around the track. Gordon is one of the best to drive in NASCAR, and he continues to build his legacy inside the broadcast booth.

Gordon and the field have great weather for Sunday’s race. He won’t be competing for another Daytona 500 win but he’ll be the first to cross the finish line before the first lap is officially run. Additionally, Gordon got some love from Tony Stewart before he took off and Dale Jr. during the warmup laps.

Despite jokingly saying he was going to stay on the track to race a few laps, Gordon pulled off as the green flag was waved. NFL legend LaDadanian Tomlinson waved it perfectly as Chase Elliott and Earnhardt Jr. started the race in the front row.

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Daytona 500 has a rich history, and Gordon’s participation as the pace car driver only adds to that as the 59th running of the Daytona 500 began.