STRENGTH IN NUMBERS; Denny Hamlin wins New Hampshire, but Hendrick Motorsports shows its power.(Competition)

Byline: AL PEARCE

What does NASCAR do now that Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson finished second and fifth without the aid of their suspended crew chiefs (see Competition)? Dock 'em two laps before the Pepsi 400? Make 'em race on three wheels?

Whatever, it probably won't slow them much. Remember last year, when Johnson had two wins and two seconds while crew chief Chad Knaus served a four-race suspension for cheating? If Gordon's and Johnson's performances at New Hampshire International Speedway are any gauge, you'll see more of that over the next five races.

"Our teams and organization are that good,'' Gordon said after finishing beside Denny Hamlin in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300. "We've got depth because we've spent years building the teams. It never revolves around one person. It's not me or the crew chief or guys hanging bodies or building engines. It's everybody's effort.''

Hamlin won the 300-lapper, but Gordon's second and Johnson's fifth with fill-in crew chiefs were powerfully impressive. Jeff Mannington replaced Steve Letarte for Gordon; Ron Malec replaced Chad Knaus for Johnson. NASCAR fined and suspended Letarte and Knaus for cheating at Infineon Raceway ("Corporate Average Fuel Economy,'' AW, July 2). Their drivers and owners lost points, and Hendrick Motorsports took another image hit.

Still, Gordon might have won in New Hampshire if he'd passed Martin Truex Jr. a bit quicker. Instead, their late-race five-lap scrap for second gave Hamlin enough breathing room for his first win this year. It ended an aggravating spell-Bristol, Martinsville, Phoenix and Darlington-of good runs that didn't always produce good finishes.

"I knew we were capable,'' Hamlin said. "We've been competitive every week, and that's what's kept us motivated. We know when we unload we have a top-five car. We knew [a win] was going to eventually happen. Today, we took a chance when it really mattered.''