January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Jeff's back in the game
Also clear - but perhaps not as apparent - is the identity of Johnson's biggest obstacles to another title: Johnson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon.
Lost in the aftermath of consecutive Johnson wins at California and Las Vegas is Gordon's resurgence.
Although he lost Sunday's race at Las Vegas because of pit strategy, Gordon still enjoyed one of his most dominant performances in years. He led 219 of 267 laps (82 percent).
"I think we've got more of what we showed (and) that we're going to show a lot more," Gordon said. "I think we're just starting to tap into it."
Johnson certainly took note.
"Man, I did all I could and I had nothing for him," Johnson said of his effort to run Gordon down Sunday. "I think it really showed the strength of the Hendrick cars when Jeff and I checked out from everyone."
To find a race Gordon dominated like he did Sunday, you have to go back to the 2001 season, when Gordon won the most recent of his four Cup titles. He led 257 of 300 laps (86 percent) at New Hampshire, a race rescheduled as the season finale because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Gordon has won plenty of races since then, but none in which he had the field covered like he did Sunday.
"You know, it doesn't matter to me who it is out there, whether it's our own teammate or whether it's a competitor, you want to go out there and compete against the best and you want to beat the best," Gordon said.
"And I feel like our best days with our No. 24 team over the years, we were going up against Mark Martin when he was at Roush, Dale Earnhardt Sr. when he was at Childress, Dale Jarrett at Yates.
"So while it's coming in-house, it's still another competitor. And it drives us. It inspires us. It motivates us.
"The reason you saw us perform and dominate the way we did (Sunday) is because of those guys pushing us."
After four seasons of watching Johnson - who Gordon helped bring to the Hendrick table - match his championship total, perhaps the race to a fifth has provided extra incentive.
There is little solace in losses, but even Gordon saw the silver lining in Sunday's effort.
"I'm disappointed, but at the same time, we haven't dominated like this in a very, very long time," Gordon said. "At the same time, I'm very really excited about this race team.
"I've been saying it all winter long. Even the first two races, I've been trying to say it. If you don't have the results, then it doesn't matter.
"We showed what we're capable of. It gives us a lot of momentum to go to Atlanta."[[In-content Ad]]
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