Gordon close, but still can't find Victory Lane

JOLIET, Ill. -- There is a theory in racing that, before one can win, they must first run consistently in the top five. That said, Jeff Gordon should win any week now.

Jimmie Johnson was fourth and Jeff Gordon second for Hendrick on Sunday.

Gordon once again made a serious bid to end his highly-publicized victory drought Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, finishing second to Kevin Harvick in the Tropicana 400.

"We had a good car all day," said Gordon, who also finished second earlier this year at Texas. "If we could just get in clean air, man, we could fly."

That wish never came true. Both Harvick and Gordon opted to stay out on the race's final caution, and Harvick was able to hold off Gordon's charge on the final restart with 20 laps remaining.

"I was just so loose on new tires that Kevin got by me and I guess the way it ended up, coming down to me and him that last restart, I kind of wish I would have fought him a little bit harder," Gordon said. "We were just as good as he was but he got a good restart and drove his heart out and won the race."

Mired behind Harvick, Gordon fell victim to the dreaded aero push.

"It's just aero push," Gordon said. "My car was good in clean air, but when I got behind people I just got real, real tight. Even if I could have caught him, I was on him on the restart when the tires were cool, and I got up on him, but as soon as I got into the corner the thing just started really pushing, so I couldn't do much."

Despite having not won since Kansas last year, a career-long span of 26 races, he's still very much in the championship hunt. Heading to Loudon, N.H., for next weekend's event, he ranks fourth, just 95 points behind leader Sterling Marlin.