Bud Shootout 2012 Results: Jeff Gordon Will Rebound from Horrific Shootout Crash

Although Jeff Gordon's season started terribly, I'm expecting him to once again contend for the Sprint Cup Series title.

Gordon's 2012 began with a bang, but it certainly wasn't the kind he was looking for. After bumping into eventual winner Kyle Busch, Gordon was slammed against the wall. His car then skidded several hundred feet on its driver side before flipping through the air and landing on its lid.

Luckily, he walked away from the crash unharmed. Afterwards, he made the horrific-looking crash sound quite pleasant.

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“The roll was pretty soft and pretty easy," Gordon said. "The protection we have inside these cars are amazing because I didn’t even hardly feel any of it. The toughest part was when you are laying upside-down and you can’t get out of the car. The roof was caved in a little bit, so that was no fun.”

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The crash was terrifying to watch, so it's easy to forget that Gordon was so close to winning the season-opening exhibition match. He was driving well until that fateful moment, looking every bit like the four-time Sprint Cup champion that he is.

Next up for Gordon is the Daytona 500. He's won the race three times, but he's still as hungry as ever.

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"You do work all winter long. You see how hard your team works and you want to make it all worthwhile," Gordon said. "I've gone for six, seven years now without winning the 500 so this is the ultimate."

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He came out blazing in Sunday's qualifier, posting the sixth-fastest time just one day after his deadly-looking wreck. He looked crisp throughout, and I have no doubt that he will put on a good performance on the famed track next week.

Gordon's season got off to a rocky start, and that's an understatement. However, he's still one of the most talented drivers in the game.

He'll prove just how good he is by putting together a solid 2012.