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Jeff Gordon could have replaced Tony Stewart in NASCAR Daytona 500

Jeff Gordon has revealed he could have made a NASCAR comeback five months ago replacing the injured Tony Stewart for the Daytona 500, but his television duties precluded it

Gordon is back in the Sprint Cup field for Indianapolis this weekend and the following Pocono race while erstwhile team-mate Dale Earnhardt Jr recovers from concussion-like symptoms.

Following his retirement from driving at the end of the 2015 season, four-time Cup champion Gordon moved straight into an analyst role with TV station Fox Sports.

Cup coverage in America is split between Fox and NBC, with Fox's allocation ending with Sonoma in late June.

Gordon admitted he might not have been able to take up team boss Rick Hendrick's offer had the races in question been Fox broadcasts, as he had to turn down an approach from Stewart-Haas for that reason when, Stewart injured his back in a pre-season buggy crash.

"I was asked to drive Tony Stewart's car at Daytona with his injuries and I wasn't able to do it because of my commitment to Fox," said Gordon.

"Rick has some amazing ways to convince people into things the average person isn't able to, but I don't think [he could have persuaded Fox]."

If Gordon had been able to accept SHR's offer, it would have been the first time he had raced in the Cup series in anything other than a Hendrick car.

Gordon and Hendrick both admitted that the idea of him returning as a stand-in driver had "never" even been discussed before Earnhardt's absence.

Alex Bowman - who races for Earnhardt's JR team in the Xfinity Series - was initially called up for New Hampshire last weekend as Gordon was on holiday in France when it became clear a substitute was needed.

"When he told me, I said 'you're messing with me'," said Gordon of the call from Hendrick.

"I knew right away after that that he wasn't joking. I didn't even have to think twice.

"I'm certainly a little overwhelmed with everything that's happened in the last week."

Earnhardt raised hopes of a return for the August Watkins Glen round on Friday when he tweeted "Today is the first day in many that I sensed improvement. Seen small gains during my physical therapy as well. Light at the end of the tunnel."

Gordon said that news had buoyed the whole team.

"I'm proud to be here and helped his team out," he said.

"This is his team and what we want most is to have him healthy and strong for the long term."

Earnhardt visited the Hendrick workshop on Wednesday.

"He's looks good, he's encouraged," Hendrick said.

"He wants to get back in the car and wants to race. He also knows the regime they have him on will get him right for a long time.

"He's following doctor's orders. I can tell he's getting antsy but he's going to do what they say."

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