Lap-by-Lap: Phoenix (cont'd)

Lap 90 -- GREEN FLAG: Martin Truex Jr. brings the field to the green.
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Carl Edwards
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Ryan Newman

Lap 88 -- LEAD CHANGE: Martin Truex Jr. wins the race off pit road and takes the lead.

Lap 87 -- All the lead lap cars hit pit road.
• Kurt Busch with a track bar adjustment and four tires
• Track bar and air pressure adjustments for Jeff Gordon
• Jimmie Johnson with four tires and no adjustments
• Carl Edwards with an air pressure adjustment and four tires
• Martin Truex Jr. wins the race off pit road with a great stop

Lap 86 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 2: Debris in Turns 1 and 2 brings out the caution. Kyle Petty gets the free pass.

Lap 84 -- Carl Edwards continues to lap cars as just 28 are currently on the lead lap.

Lap 71 -- It's been all Carl Edwards as he has led all 71 laps but that could change as Martin Truex Jr. has caught the rear bumper of the No. 99.

Lap 68 -- All 12 Chase drivers are in the top 16 with 11 in the top 13. Kevin Harvick is 16th.

Lap 65 -- Seven drivers are a lap down with Jeremy Mayfield the latest to get passed by leader Carl Edwards.

Lap 61 -- The top three of Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson have opened up a three-second lead on fourth-place Jeff Gordon.

Lap 56 -- Jeff Gordon passes Ryan Newman for fourth.

Lap 49 -- Carl Edwards and his two tires are holding the lead as Martin Truex Jr. can't close the gap of 0.4 seconds.

Lap 36 -- Bad news for Jeff Burton's crew. Their gas man was hit by a tire on their pit stop buckling his knee. He is being taken to the infield care center.

Lap 34 -- Jeff Gordon passes Clint Bowyer for fifth. Jimmie Johnson is up to third after passing Ryan Newman.

Lap 31 -- Four-tire cars are starting to pass the two-tire guys as Martin Truex Jr. passes Ryan Newman for second and Jimmie Johnson passes Clint Bowyer for fourth.

Lap 28 -- GREEN FLAG: Carl Edwards brings the field to the green.
1. Carl Edwards
2. Ryan Newman
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Clint Bowyer
5. Jimmie Johnson

Lap 27 -- Robby Gordon will restart on the tail end of the longest line with a pit road penalty.

Lap 26 -- All the leaders hit pit road.
• Jeff Gordon with a chassis adjustment and four tires
• Jimmie Johnson with an adjustment and four tires
• Carl Edwards takes two tires
• Ryan Newman takes two tires and gains 11 spots
• Clint Bowyer takes two tires and gains 13 spots

Lap 25 -- YELLOW FLAG NO. 1: David Gilliland spins bringing out the caution. There is no free pass.

Lap 21 -- Sterling Marlin has smoke coming from his car and he has lost 20 positions in two laps.

Lap 20 -- Jimmie Johnson completes the pass of Jeff Gordon for third.

Lap 19 -- Jimmie Johnson has caught up to Jeff Gordon and is challenging him for third.

Lap 14 -- Carl Edwards has opened up a 1.5-second lead on second-place Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 6 -- The racing is in the middle of the pack as the top-10 cars are single file while behind them it's two- and three-wide racing.

Lap 5 -- Jimmie Johnson passes J.J. Yeley for fourth.

Lap 1 -- Carl Edwards leads the first lap as the top five fall into a single-file line.

3:51 p.m. -- GREEN FLAG: Carl Edwards brings the field to speed as the Checker Auto Parts 500 is under way.

3:47 p.m. -- The cars are rolling off pit road.

3:43 p.m. -- Grand Marshal Larry Mondry gives the command: "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

3:36 p.m -- Dr. Jesse McGuire Sr. performs the national anthem on his trumpet.

3:35 p.m. -- Ken Bowers, the track Chaplain delivers the Invocation.

3:21 p.m. -- Brian Vickers will move to the rear of the field due to an engine change.

3 p.m. -- NASCAR Countdown is under way on ABC.

2:30 p.m. -- We are less than 90 minutes from the green dropping in Phoenix for the Checker Auto Parts 500, the 35th race of the season. It's a perfect 74 degrees at the track under sunny skies. Green is scheduled for 3:50 p.m. ET.

PHOENIX HEADLINES
Penske stands strong with Hornish as he starts over
Johnson, Gordon queue up for Sunday showdown
Petty: '07 Chase would be better with different duel
Transition period needed for open-wheelers to Cup
Yeley excited about move to HOF, Toyota in 2008
France pleased with Chase format after '07 changes
Phoenix race will be day of firsts for open-wheelers
Bowyer has another goal as title hopes all but gone