Gordon misses fifth title, but his Cup is full

HOMESTEAD, Fla. –- It'd be pretty hard to call 2007 anything but a great year for Jeff Gordon, despite the fact he came up short of a fifth championship.

Jeff Gordon congratulates Jimmie Johnson on his championship in Homestead. (US Presswire)

Anytime you win six races, post an average finish of just about fifth during the Chase, come home second in the final standings while also becoming a dad, it has to go down as a special year.

"Well, when you go through becoming a first-time father, there is nothing that's going to top that," Gordon said. "It is the ultimate. I've won championships before, and as bad as I wanted to win this one, I know that even that can't top becoming a dad and that whole experience."

After finishing fourth in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gordon found a way to feel good after putting together one of the best seasons of his NASCAR career, only to ultimately miss what has started to become an elusive fifth crown.

"It really was an amazing year for me," Gordon said. "To be in my 15th season and still be competitive, win races and become a first-time dad and then battle it out to the finish it was definitely an awesome year. We put together one heck of a total year."

Some believe Gordon was a victim of the Chase format, which wiped out the large points lead he'd built through the 26th race and end of the regular season. But Gordon doesn't see it that way, although he can't help being a little disappointed.

"On one side I love the Chase but when I look at our whole year, it's a little tough," Gordon said. "I'm a competitor and I'm very happy with Jimmie (Johnson)and those guys, we just came up a little short. There's nothing for us to hang our heads about. "

Gordon had the unfortunate luck of running into the buzz saw that was Johnson, who went on a tear during the Chase with a streak that made it impossible for his teammate to run him down despite the stellar performance of the No. 24 team.

"You have to push your limits by leading laps," Gordon said. "What makes those guys so good is they were able to push the limit and not make mistakes. What they did this year was incredible. I'll take a 5.1 average for the rest of my career in the Chase and take my chances winning a championship.

"Those guys got aggressive and we played it conservative. They got the wins at crucial times when we were conservative and those guys beat us. That's the bottom line. Those are all things we'll have to look at next year. It's always risk versus reward. I don't know if we can do a whole lot more on the race track."

Johnson's aggressive approach to the Chase surprised some. but not Gordon, who knew his teammate would continue to do Sunday what he'd done all throughout the playoffs.

"They got behind in the points and knew they had to be more aggressive and they went on a tear," Gordon said of Johnson's team. "That's where this championship turned around for them and for us."

Johnson won the pole and then raced hard at the drop of the green flag to lead the first lap and gain five bonus points.