4 series victory. Gordon also did an impressive set of tests with the new Stewart/Tyrrell in 1994.

The stage was set for Stewart/Tyrrell Grand Prix '95.

The drivers were veteran Brazillian Rubens Barrichello ,and American rookie Jeff Gordon.

However, before Gordon began his Formula 1 journey, Ford had an idea to get some buzz for him in America.

They entered Jeff Gordon in 1995 Daytona 500, driving a third entry for the successful Yates-Kulwicki-Allison Racing Team. YKA was leading a period of Ford dominance in NASCAR, and Jeff Gordon added his name to it.

Gordon won his Twin 125-mile qualifying heat and started 3rd in the grid. On race day, Gordon led 127 laps and passed Sterling Marlin on the final lap to win the 1995 Daytona 500.

The next week Gordon was participatingin the final F1 Preseason test at Estoril, Portugal, and there was a lot of buzz generated.

At first, at lot of European fans looked down their nose on the American, and his pedigree on dusty backwater dirt tracks.

But people who knew racing and knew history saw the stuff of past American grand prix stars in Jeff Gordon.

"This kid lacks the sense of entitlement that plagued Michael Andretti. He has the raw Mozart-like talent Salieris like Eddie Cheever or John Paul Jr. could only dream of. Dismiss this young American at your peril. You just may find yourself with egg on your face, like a few NASCAR experts did after Daytona." -- Nigel Roebuck in Autosport..March 13, 1995 Click to expand...

Gordon learned quickly in 1995 and 1996, and it