Jimmy Johnson Wins UAW-GM Quality 500

Jimmie Johnson thought he needed a victory to jump back into contention for the Nextel Cup championship. He got it, and it still wasn't enough.

Johnson won the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday night - leading teammate Jeff Gordon across the finish line for a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports - but gained almost no ground in the Chase for the Championship.

On a night in which almost all 10 of the championship contenders had some sort of trouble, Kurt Busch and Gordon rebounded the best.

The two bounced back from a wreck in the first turn of the first lap to salvage stellar finishes and retain their hold on the top of the point standings.

Busch finished fourth and now holds a 24-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished third. Gordon, who also had a second minor accident midway through the race, is 74 points back.