WASHINGTON — Jeff Gordon enjoyed a trip down memory lane by winning both of the International Race of Champions events Saturday on the streets of Washington, D.C. ahead of INDYCAR’s Freedom 250 on Sunday.
The 10-lap exhibition races featured eight famous drivers who had competed in the previous version of IROC, a series that pitted the best from various forms of motorsports into equally prepared cars.
In Pontiac Firebirds, the races featured former NASCAR drivers Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch; former full-time INDYCAR drivers Tony Kanaan and Hélio Castroneves and road-racer Tony Kendall.
The races were a support event for INDYCAR’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend on a 1.7-mile course that includes Pennsylvania, Constitution and Independence avenues.
“Just being out here, being a part of this special event, the fans are everywhere, celebrating 250 years of this great country — this is super special,” Jeff Gordon said in his FOX Sports interview after the sweep.
A tape-delay telecast of the races will air Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on FS1.
“This is just such a blast,” Gordon said in his television interview after the first race. “To be on the track with this group of drivers — legends, right? … It’s going to be hard to wipe this smile off my face for a very long time.”
The four-time NASCAR Cup champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer continued smiling all the way from coming from the rear of the field to the front in the second race.
Gordon had previously competed in six IROC seasons — they were just four races — from 1995-2000 and won just once.
“It’s a real honor to be a part of this event,” Gordon said. “I’m truly blessed.”
