fascinating revelation from the world of motorsport has resurfaced, detailing how NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon and IndyCar star Dario Franchitti were once considered for a potential Formula 1 partnership—a move that could have reshaped the sport’s presence in the United States.
The story was shared on the Happy Hour Podcast, hosted by former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, where veteran motorsport journalist and FOX IndyCar commentator Will Buxton recalled the ambitious plan.
According to Buxton, in the late 1990s, there was a serious proposal for Jeff Gordon to transition from NASCAR to open-wheel racing. The plan involved Gordon joining Team Kool Green in IndyCar for a season or two to prepare for a future Formula 1 seat with British American Racing (BAR). Simultaneously, Franchitti would move directly to F1, setting the stage for the two champions to become teammates at BAR.
The timeline placed this opportunity around 1999—shortly after Gordon had secured three NASCAR Cup Series titles in four years. Buxton emphasized the potential significance of the move, saying:
“That would have broken F1 in America 20 or 30 years before Drive to Survive. You get Jeff Gordon and Dario Franchitti—two all-time greats from stock cars and open-wheel—racing together in F1, it would have been massive.”
However, the plan never came to fruition. In a 2003 interview, Gordon explained that while discussions took place, there was no guaranteed F1 contract on the table. The pathway suggested two years in CART with Barry Green’s team, followed by testing in F1 and a possible race seat. Gordon ultimately declined the opportunity, saying:
“I had already won two Winston Cup championships at that time… I told the BAR people I was pretty much set here.”
Gordon opted to stay in NASCAR, where he was at the peak of his career. Although he never raced in Formula 1, he did get a taste of it in 2003 during a car swap event with F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya at Indianapolis, where he drove the Williams FW24.
A Lasting Cross-Series Friendship: Jeff Gordon and Mark Webber
Despite never making the leap to F1, Gordon developed a strong bond with former F1 driver Mark Webber. The two first met during the 2004 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona through their shared sponsor, DuPont. That encounter marked the start of a lasting friendship.
In 2019, their connection was rekindled when Gordon invited Webber to the prestigious Knoxville Nationals, a major event in U.S. sprint car racing. For Webber, who had long wanted to attend, it was a memorable experience—enhanced further by Gordon bringing him to the winner’s podium.
Their friendship was recently celebrated on social media by Jeff Gordon Online, which recalled both their initial meeting and 2019 reunion.
Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion with 93 career wins, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019. Mark Webber enjoyed a successful F1 career from 2002 to 2013, claiming nine Grand Prix victories—most of them with Red Bull Racing.