Gordon low-key heading into Chase

Jeff Gordon has won four Cup championships, the most recent coming in 2001. While all eyes this week have been on who's going to claim the last few spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, one driver has gone somewhat unnoticed.

Jeff Gordon prefers it that way.

Gordon started last night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway as one of four drivers assured of a spot in the 10-race Chase. He was second in points behind Tony Stewart.

"Other than the bonus points, I think I'd rather be under the radar a little bit going into the Chase," Gordon said.

Fat chance.

While few of the other drivers this week mentioned Gordon as the man to beat going into the Chase, he's had a consistent string of top-10 finishes.

In 25 starts, Gordon has been out of the top 10 just eight times, although two of those came in the past four races.

His only win came at Texas in the seventh race of the season. Gordon said the relative anonymity -- as much anonymity as you can get being a four-time champion -- has allowed him to focus and deflect the outside expectations.

"There's enough pressure from inside your team and on your own shoulders that you don't want anything adding to that," he said.

"I've been on both sides of it. As close and as tight and as competitive as this series is right now with these cars, I'd prefer to have that. If we had the dominant car that was just going to wax everybody, then I'm fine having the bull's-eye on my back, but that's not the case these days."

While Gordon didn't have to spend the week stewing about making the Chase, he didn't go into last night's race intending to take a joyride.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is an 11-race Chase. It's not 10," he said.

"I think maybe about the pressure, but I approach every race whether it's inside the Chase or outside the Chase the same, and that's to win. We go into every race trying to win, putting our best foot forward, and that's the way it's always been for us. It doesn't always turn out that way, but that's the goal. That's the goal this weekend, and it will be the goal next weekend."

The pressure will begin anew next weekend at New Hampshire for Gordon and everybody else in the Chase. There's not much chance he'll enjoy the same quiet.

"I would like to have a few more wins, but we've had a great year," he said. "We've been solid. We're a great team, and I think we definitely have a shot at the championship."