Retired Jeff Gordon may fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Brickyard 400

Jeff Gordon retired at the end of last season as one of NASCAR’s top stars.

An injury to another of the sports’ most popular drivers could bring Gordon back, at least for one race.

"He's a four-time champion with 93 wins -- he's not a bad person to think about to get in the car," Duchardt said of Gordon, who is an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports. "This week, he's in France. ... If Dale is not able to go at Indianapolis, we'll put Jeff Gordon in the car.”

Gordon, a record five-time winner at the Brickyard 400, retweeted Hendrick’s announcement of his possible return Friday morning.

Earnhardt initially thought he was suffering from allergies or a sinus infection and informed his team Tuesday that a relief driver might be needed for this weekend in New Hampshire. It wasn’t until Wednesday at noon that Duchardt learned that Earnhardt would be out because of what were determined to be concussion-like symptoms.

Alex Bowman will take Earnhardt’s place Sunday in the No. 88 car.

"I’m disappointed about missing New Hampshire this weekend,” Earnhardt said in a statement Thursday night. “I’m looking forward to treatment with the goal of getting back in the race car when the doctors say I’m ready."

Earnhardt speculated that a concussion may have occurred during crashes June 12 at Michigan and July 2 at Daytona.

"When Dale is ready, it's his car to get back into," Duchardt said.