Benevolent One
Team Owner
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Since winning four championships in seven seasons, Jeff Gordon now has gone five consecutive years without a Nextel Cup title.
"There are a lot of fathers in the garage who are proud of what they've accomplished and where they're at. For a child not to be able to see that would take something away from them."
-- Jeff GordonAnd he's happier than he has ever been in his life.
Oh sure, Gordon has some issues on his mind, especially the Car of Tomorrow. That topic gets him a little riled up.
But his demeanor takes an immediate 180 when asked about the one thing that fills most of his thoughts these days -- becoming a father.
The magical moment is expected in early July when his wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, is due to deliver the couple's first child.
"I've wanted this for a long time," Gordon said. "I finally found the right person at the right time of my life for that to happen."
A lot has changed in Gordon's life since that last Cup championship, in 2001. He went through an ugly public divorce four years before meeting Vandebosch, a Belgian model.
The couple announced their engagement last June and married in November at a private ceremony -- well, private except for the US magazine photographer -- in Mexico.
Gordon beams when discussing his upcoming fatherhood. You can see in his eyes how much it means to him. At an interview session Wednesday, he was asked if he plans to change any diapers.
"Of course I will," he said, shocked that anyone would doubt it for one of the biggest celebrities in sports. "I'm going to be an involved parent, for sure.
"It might not have been like that if I was 21 or 22. But I'm 35. This is something we've planned and looked forward to. It didn't take as long as we thought, but that's OK."
When Gordon gets rolling on the subject, it becomes clear he has seriously considered how his life is about to change.
"No doubt adjustments will need to be made," he said. "In June and July I'm keeping my schedule fairly open for both the birth and the month after to spend as much time as I can with Ingrid and the baby."
Jeff Gordon said he and wife Ingrid Vandebosch have had discussions about giving their child an appreciation for what he does for a living.
Gordon hopes his baby isn't born on a race day. He desperately wants to be at Ingrid's side in the delivery room, but he also has a job to do. Gordon insists his hunger to win a fifth championship hasn't diminished.
"I know there'll be more responsibilities and some sleepless nights," he said. "I want to be like any other father and do the best that I can while doing the best I can at my job, as well.
"Once I put the helmet on and flip that switch, nothing is going to change my competitiveness of wanting to win on the racetrack."
Gordon will turn 36 a month after the baby is born. He is about to start his 15th season in Cup. He has raced full time as a professional since he was 18, a career path that started when he was 5 in Vallejo, Calif.
That's a long time to keep the same zeal for one pursuit. Gordon realizes people sometimes change their outlook when they become parents.
"It can go either way," he said. "You can have a child and wrap yourself up in that child, then say everything else is pushed aside. Or you can be so excited and so encouraged about it, and how happy you are in life, that you're better at your job."
It's obvious which scenario Gordon plans to follow. He has spent a lot of time lately reading books on child rearing and talking to fellow drivers about being a parent. He said those conversations have reinforced how important his career is to him.
"There are a lot of fathers in the garage who are proud of what they've accomplished and where they're at," Gordon said. "For a child not to be able to see that would take something away from them.
"It's something Ingrid and I have talked about. I hope I can stay in the sport long enough for [our children] to get an appreciation for what I've done all these years to help provide the life they're going to have."
Gordon has done all he can to understand what it means to be a father, but it's a little like driving a race car. Some things can't be taught. You just have to experience it.
"No matter what I do, until that day comes, I don't really know what to expect," Gordon said. "You try to be as prepared as possible, but there's no way to really be prepared. I'm going into it with an open mind and a lot of excitement."
It's an approach that always has worked for Gordon as a driver. No doubt it also will work for him as a father.
"There are a lot of fathers in the garage who are proud of what they've accomplished and where they're at. For a child not to be able to see that would take something away from them."
-- Jeff GordonAnd he's happier than he has ever been in his life.
Oh sure, Gordon has some issues on his mind, especially the Car of Tomorrow. That topic gets him a little riled up.
But his demeanor takes an immediate 180 when asked about the one thing that fills most of his thoughts these days -- becoming a father.
The magical moment is expected in early July when his wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, is due to deliver the couple's first child.
"I've wanted this for a long time," Gordon said. "I finally found the right person at the right time of my life for that to happen."
A lot has changed in Gordon's life since that last Cup championship, in 2001. He went through an ugly public divorce four years before meeting Vandebosch, a Belgian model.
The couple announced their engagement last June and married in November at a private ceremony -- well, private except for the US magazine photographer -- in Mexico.
Gordon beams when discussing his upcoming fatherhood. You can see in his eyes how much it means to him. At an interview session Wednesday, he was asked if he plans to change any diapers.
"Of course I will," he said, shocked that anyone would doubt it for one of the biggest celebrities in sports. "I'm going to be an involved parent, for sure.
"It might not have been like that if I was 21 or 22. But I'm 35. This is something we've planned and looked forward to. It didn't take as long as we thought, but that's OK."
When Gordon gets rolling on the subject, it becomes clear he has seriously considered how his life is about to change.
"No doubt adjustments will need to be made," he said. "In June and July I'm keeping my schedule fairly open for both the birth and the month after to spend as much time as I can with Ingrid and the baby."
Jeff Gordon said he and wife Ingrid Vandebosch have had discussions about giving their child an appreciation for what he does for a living.
Gordon hopes his baby isn't born on a race day. He desperately wants to be at Ingrid's side in the delivery room, but he also has a job to do. Gordon insists his hunger to win a fifth championship hasn't diminished.
"I know there'll be more responsibilities and some sleepless nights," he said. "I want to be like any other father and do the best that I can while doing the best I can at my job, as well.
"Once I put the helmet on and flip that switch, nothing is going to change my competitiveness of wanting to win on the racetrack."
Gordon will turn 36 a month after the baby is born. He is about to start his 15th season in Cup. He has raced full time as a professional since he was 18, a career path that started when he was 5 in Vallejo, Calif.
That's a long time to keep the same zeal for one pursuit. Gordon realizes people sometimes change their outlook when they become parents.
"It can go either way," he said. "You can have a child and wrap yourself up in that child, then say everything else is pushed aside. Or you can be so excited and so encouraged about it, and how happy you are in life, that you're better at your job."
It's obvious which scenario Gordon plans to follow. He has spent a lot of time lately reading books on child rearing and talking to fellow drivers about being a parent. He said those conversations have reinforced how important his career is to him.
"There are a lot of fathers in the garage who are proud of what they've accomplished and where they're at," Gordon said. "For a child not to be able to see that would take something away from them.
"It's something Ingrid and I have talked about. I hope I can stay in the sport long enough for [our children] to get an appreciation for what I've done all these years to help provide the life they're going to have."
Gordon has done all he can to understand what it means to be a father, but it's a little like driving a race car. Some things can't be taught. You just have to experience it.
"No matter what I do, until that day comes, I don't really know what to expect," Gordon said. "You try to be as prepared as possible, but there's no way to really be prepared. I'm going into it with an open mind and a lot of excitement."
It's an approach that always has worked for Gordon as a driver. No doubt it also will work for him as a father.
