INDIANAPOLIS — Jeff Gordon always expected to be at this weekend’s Brickyard 400.

The tricky part was figuring out his role.

One week after Gordon asked his publicist to delay a long-planned announcement that he would drive the pace car before a race he won five times, the four-time Cup champion returned to the 2.5-mile oval as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s replacement and the top attraction in Sunday’s race.

“When (team owner) Rick (Hendrick) said to me, `Are you coming to Indianapolis?’ I said `Yes I am. I am coming on Saturday,”’ Gordon said. “He said, `Well, you better bring your uniform.”’

The improbable comeback takes place just a short drive away from his childhood home of Pittsboro, Indiana, and eight months after retiring.

He’s back for only one reason: Earnhardt continues to battle concussion-like symptoms and has not yet been cleared by doctors to get back into the car.

When Earnhardt took himself out of the No. 88 last weekend, Hendrick contacted his long-time star who was vacationing in France. Gordon agreed to pinch-hit when he returned. Gordon then texted publicist Jon Edwards, who contacted the speedway 15 minutes before the scheduled announcement.