Hendrick drivers preparing to face NASCAR's wrath (cont'd)

"I think the punishment on Friday fit the crime," he said. "I think anything more than that is going to be extremely disappointing, and really kind of a jaw-dropper. But hey, I've seen crazy things happen this year. I'm not wishing or expecting anything less than anyone else."

'Gray' matter

Team owner Rick Hendrick said his teams did not bend any specific rules at Sonoma and what NASCAR considers COT violations remains unclear.

• Complete story, click here
• 24, 48 fail COT inspection
• Video: McReynolds, Snider

Gordon started the event 41st and Johnson 42nd, just ahead of final speed qualifier P.J. Jones. Both drivers used pit strategy to gain track position, and gradually work their way toward the front. Johnson led one lap during an extended green-flag pit sequence, and Gordon ran as high as third by the 40-lap mark. (Lap-by-Lap)

But neither could stay up front for very long. Employing a pit strategy that sometimes used no-tire stops, the Hendrick drivers often stayed in contention only as long as their rubber held out.

"We had to really work hard to get up through the pack and be creative with strategy," Johnson said. "The strategy worked, but didn't work as good as we thought it was going to."

Gordon managed to hold on a little longer than his teammate, and received a ray of hope over the radio when Letarte informed him that several of the top contenders might run short on fuel. But lapped traffic prevented the No. 24 car from making up any further ground.

"When Steve was telling me that the guys could run out of fuel ahead of us, I thought we had a shot at winning it or being in the top five," Gordon said. "We came close. But it really started giving up. I caught some lapped traffic. They were tough on me, as I expected them to be. I just didn't have the tires to pass those guys."

Gordon's finish was good enough to preserve a 271-point lead on Denny Hamlin in the Nextel Cup standings, an advantage he stands to lose a good chunk of by penalty this week. But given the track time that he lost, he seemed content with the result.

"It was a huge impact," he said of missing practice and qualifying Friday. "I mean, my gosh, at this place it's near impossible to come from that far back. You know, Steve made some great calls. The cautions fell when we needed them to, we picked up some spots, and we worked hard. We did everything we possibly could to get the best finish, and I think seventh is a great finish."