Gordon bites lip, bides time before making his move (cont'd)

"There are so many circumstances that have to go your way," Johnson said. "If there isn't a big wreck or it's a caution-free race, like we've seen, you're riding around in the back and you've then got 30 or 40 great racecars that you've got to get by.

"So I think circumstances determine how that strategy plays out. [Sunday], it worked out well for us."

The plan appeared to unravel when Gordon hooked an air hose when he left his pit stall on Lap 139 and was given a pass-through penalty, which put him 36th -- six spots behind Johnson. But that ended up being a blessing in disguise, as the two were well behind the 11-car pileup which collected Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth seven laps later.

That set up the perfect scenario. As a trio of Dodges held the high road, Johnson, Gordon and teammate Casey Mears -- along with Tony Stewart -- all Chevrolets -- found the bottom groove ready and waiting, and took full advantage of it.

Once Johnson broke out in front for the Bowtie Brigade, Gordon only needed to remain patient for a little longer. With the white flag in the air, he found an opening to the outside on the backstretch, veered in front of a charging Stewart and rode the momentum past his teammate for his 80th career victory -- and sixth at NASCAR's longest track.

It was a move worthy of some of Talladega's greatest legends -- and the fans, who have showered Gordon with boos and beer cans here in the past, held their fire as he completed his burnout -- and some even cheered. Sweet home, Alabama, indeed.

"That was a risk worth taking on the white-flag lap," Gordon said. "My spotter played a very important role there at the end. If you wait until the white flag, you'll go back five spots instead of 10 or 20."

"[Sunday], it wasn't about teammates. It was about competition and trying to win the race."

Another COT race. Another 1-2 finish for Gordon and Johnson. Who's yawning now?

Others may get more credit for their restrictor-plate prowess, but Gordon has become a master of making all the right moves.

"If you look at a lot of my wins on these tracks, what happens is, I try to get the outside or to the inside on the last lap if I possibly can or a couple of laps to go, if possible," he said. "And then I try to let the line behind me dictate whether we win the race or not.

"[Sunday], it was another one of those moments where that line behind me happened to be Stewart with a lot of momentum. He had no choice. He either hit the wall, hit the cars inside of him or push me. He pushed me."

A lot of patience went a little way at Talladega on Sunday.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.