Jeff Gordon's day began to turn sour on Lap 7. Credit: Autostock

Gordon drive for five stalled by adversity

Four-time Indy winner back in contention for Chase position

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- It could have been the perfect Hollywood script for Jeff Gordon.

Coming from three laps down for a fifth win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to tie seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher for most wins at the 2.5-mile track.

Jimmie Johnson led 33 laps and was able to kiss the bricks at Indianapolis. Credit: Autostock

Allstate 400 Official Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Jimmie Johnson Chevy 2. Matt Kenseth Ford 3. Kevin Harvick Chevy 4. Clint Bowyer Chevy 5. Mark Martin Ford 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 7. Kyle Busch Chevy 8. Tony Stewart Chevy 9. Carl Edwards Ford 10. Denny Hamlin Chevy • Complete results, click here • Official standings, click here Hendrick's hard timeGordon and Johnson both have trouble at The Brickyard Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his first Brickyard victory Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Collecting career win No. 76 to tie seven-time Nextel Cup champion Dale Earnhardt for sixth on NASCAR's all-time win list.

It didn't happen.

But Gordon, who overcame a broken sway bar to finish 16th, did visit Victory Lane on Sunday as Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson won for the first time on the famed Brickyard.

More importantly, Gordon moved up a spot to eighth in points with five races left before the Chase for the Nextel Cup is set.

"That was one hard-fought 16th," Gordon said as sweat rolled off his forehead. "This shows just how much of a championship-caliber team they are. I can't be too disappointed. We could have been a heckuva lot worse than 16th."

A year ago at this time, Gordon was 14th in points on his way to missing the Chase. He seemed destined to fall out of the top 10 guaranteed spots in NASCAR's playoff again after breaking the left-front sway bar almost as soon as the 160-lap race began.

He quickly slid back through the field, finally pitting on Lap 9 to have the problem surveyed.

He lost one lap when leader Jeff Burton passed him immediately after the stop. He lost another when Burton passed him while he nursed the car around until the first of two mandated competition cautions to check tire wear on Lap 15.

Gordon lost one more lap while repairs were made during the caution to go three down.

"It happened immediately," Gordon said of the malfunction. "I heard it pop. I thought it cut a front tire."

Gordon made up one lap under the Lucky Dog rule when Boris Said crashed shortly after the Lap 19 restart.

He got another free pass to go one lap down after a caution came out when Jeremy Mayfield lost a tire and hit the wall on Lap 58. He moved onto the lead lap with another free pass when a caution came out for debris on Lap 87.

He restarted 40th, but quickly began making up ground. He was 29th by Lap 107 and 23rd by Lap 130.

"We had a great car," Gordon said. "We just didn't need those problems and we needed track position."

Gordon slipped to 27th during the final caution for debris when four cars chose not to pit and several others took only two tires. Among the cars that didn't pit was the No. 8 of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished sixth and move up to 10th in the points.

"I know Junior lucked out big time to have that strategy work out for him," Gordon said. "He was horrible all day.

"Obviously frustrating, to have a car as good as ours and not be able to run up front for the top position. We got so far behind in the beginning, I guess we're fortunate we got back on the lead lap."

Gordon moved up about six spots over the final 10 laps, again showing he had a car that could have competed for the win had it not been for the early trouble.

"It certainly doesn't feel like a win," Gordon said. "[But] it feels good. I'm proud of the guys and their effort, but we shouldn't have had that problem to begin with.

"On the one side I'm happy because we ran good and fought hard. On the other hand I'm really disappointed we weren't up there all day."