Jeff Gordon's late tire gamble backfires in final Sonoma race

SONOMA, Calif. — Jeff Gordon's final race at his home track Sunday didn't go as planned.

A beautiful afternoon at Sonoma Raceway had the makings of a magical day for Gordon and his legion of fans — many of whom filled the stands and hillsides to give the track one of its biggest crowds in years.

But those who came out to see the Vallejo native race in California for the last time left disappointed after he ended up with a 16th-place finish.

"We're trying to win," Gordon said. "We're trying to get outside of our comfort zone and box a little bit (with the setup). It didn't work out today, but it will."

Despite an ill-handling car, a flat tire and an unusual penalty, Gordon was in third place on a late restart after crew chief Alan Gustafson had him stay out on old tires.

But he quickly fell back when cars with fresher tires caught up, and the track's all-time leader in wins, top-five finishes and top-10 finishes was unable to extend any of his records.

"It was a gamble, and we weren't the only ones who took it," he said.

Gordon and Gustafson had tried a setup that varied slightly from Hendrick Motorsports teammates like Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne — one that seemed to work well in practice.

But once the race started and the track took rubber, the car's handling went away. Meanwhile, the other Hendrick cars were all running in the top 10.

So Gustafson had the crew pull spring rubbers — soft material that goes in between spring coils — and a crewman tossed one over the pit wall.

That resulted in a penalty for throwing equipment, which dropped Gordon to 27th with 30 laps to go.

"I don't even know what the penalty was. What was it for?" Gordon later asked reporters, who told him it was for a spring rubber. "You're not allowed to throw a spring rubber? Oh. That's a new one."

With 10 races to go until the Chase for the Sprint Cup field is set, Gordon could be in danger of missing the playoff in his final season. He is currently 11th in the standings, but does not have a Chase-clinching victory.

Should he run into trouble this summer with some poor finishes or if other first-time winners take Chase bids, Gordon could potentially be left out. In that sense, the increasing prospect of Kyle Busch making the Chase — he would be the 11th driver in — was not good news for Gordon.

"It's not about making the Chase, it's about being a factor in the Chase," he said. "While there is meaning to being in it, we want to do a lot more than just be in it. We've got some improving to do. We know that, we're working on it."

Could that win come at Daytona International Speedway next week, where Gordon has won six times?

"I would say that's one of my least (best) chances to win," he said. "I can't stand that kind of racing."

Follow Jeff Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck.

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