Tire tactic vaults Johnson

Luck was a word many used to explain Jimmie Johnson's Sprint Cup victory a week ago in Fontana, Calif., after he slipped onto pit road moments before a yellow flag helped him take the lead.

The four-time reigning series champion won for the fourth time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in six years Sunday -- and luck wasn't the reason.

Johnson captured the 267-lap Shelby American for his 49th career victory and 15th on a 1.5-mile speedway, setting a record he had shared with Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

Late-race tire strategy by Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus helped their No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet overcome teammate Gordon, who led 219 of the race's first 250 laps.

While Gordon took two tires, Johnson took four. That was the difference, according to both drivers.

"We felt as though coming into that last pit stop, if we took four tires and went out somewhere in the top eight we would have a shot to win the race if everybody else took two," Johnson said.

He restarted the race third and quickly picked off leader Clint Bowyer before starting to run down Gordon in front of a near-capacity crowd estimated at 140,000.

Johnson passed Gordon on lap 251 and wasn't challenged over the final 16 laps to beat runner-up Kevin Harvick by 1.87 seconds. Gordon was third.

"No luck involved in that one, my friend," crew chief Chad Knaus told Johnson over the team's radio after Johnson took the checkered flag.

Gordon agreed.

"You do everything you can as a team (the right way), and when everything is clicking, good things happen," he said. "And that to me is not good luck; that's you creating things around you to work in the right direction."

Gordon can blame himself for Johnson's victory -- and take a little bit of pride, too. It was Gordon's suggestion to bring Johnson into the Hendrick fold and Gordon is part owner of Johnson's No. 48 team.

"Somebody once told me that if you're gonna get beat, make sure you're getting a piece of it," said Gordon, who was gunning for his third Las Vegas title. "That's one positive to take out of it."

Johnson earned $405,628 for his team after his second victory in three starts this year.

For nearly all of the 2-hour, 49-minute, 53-second race -- the second quickest 267-lap race at the speedway -- it looked like Gordon would be the one celebrating in Victory Lane.

On the first lap he took the lead from pole winner Kurt Busch, who was caught in a crash on lap 94 and finished eight laps down in 35th.

Younger brother Kyle Busch, who won the Cup race here last year, wrestled a poor-handling car and then was penalized for speeding on pit road. He finished 15th.

Gordon led by more than 8 seconds after 45 laps and only lost the lead when he pitted. Johnson, who qualified 20th in the 43-car field, worked his way into the top five by lap 61.

By lap 121 he was running second to Gordon and stayed there for all but a few laps before taking the lead.

Harvick, who won the Sam's Town 300 on Saturday, finished second to Johnson for the second consecutive Sunday.

"We can run with them, and they know it," he said.

Harvick might be able to run with Johnson, but he hasn't proved he can pass him.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.