NASCAR at Pocono 2013: Jeff Gordon uncertain how long he will continue to drive

When the news came out Thursday that one of Jeff Gordon’s longtime sponsors had signed an extension to continue sponsoring his car through 2016, some wondered if that meant he was committed to driving for three more years.

However, Gordon said Friday at Pocono Raceway that this isn’t necessarily true and he has no timetable on how long he’s going to continue to compete.

“Can you pencil any driver in for every weekend for every year?,” Gordon said. “I feel like the same things apply, nothing has changed for me. We’re still competitive and still being challenged and have goals and my back is hanging in there.

“I want to race for a long time, but I can’t say how long that is going to be at this time.”

Gordon is in his 21st season in the Sprint Cup Series and has amassed 87 victories along with four Sprint Cup titles and in every one of those wins and championships his No. 24 car has been sponsored by DuPont.

Whether that partnership would continue was in doubt when Axalta bought DuPont last year. But the company agreed with Hendrick Motorsports on a three-year extension that will see it be the primary sponsor in 10 races in each of the next three seasons and an associate sponsor in all events.

Axalta has promoted its various brands throughout this season, but Pocono marks the first time that the company will have its name and new logo on Gordon’s car.

“We’ve got sponsorship, which is a positive thing for our team and the sport,” Gordon said. “Because of the transition and the sale of how DuPont went about it, this was a season that was sort of guaranteed.

“The next seasons ahead were not guaranteed and so it’s pretty exciting to know that they have that interest and have been working with Hendrick to sign an extension.”