Keys to the race | Four things that shaped Sunday's outcome at Phoenix

DAVID POOLE

The Charlotte Observer

Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007

Key moments in Sunday's race:

LAP 119

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crash brings out a yellow flag, and Jeff Gordon comes down pit road while Jimmie Johnson stays out. That puts Gordon out of sequence, a potentially pivotal situation.

LAP 188

Matt Kenseth makes a green-flag pit stop, handing the lead to Johnson. That gives Johnson five bonus points, and since Gordon is yet to lead a lap that's five bonus points more on the lead Johnson would leave with.

LAP 199

Gordon makes a green-flag pit stop and falls a lap down. If a caution comes out before Johnson pits, the race for this year's championship would be over. But Johnson comes in on Lap 219 and Gordon dodges immediate disaster.

LAP 270

With Gordon's left-front tire smoking after contact with Kevin Harvick, debris on the track brings out a yellow. That gives Gordon a chance to get a new tire, but he's buried back in 12th for the restart.

LAP 289

Johnson passes Martin Truex Jr. to take the lead on his way to a fourth-straight victory. Coincidentally, the pass comes with 24 laps left - matching the car number of Gordon in a race where Johnson most likely put his teammate away.

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