Jeff Gordon started the 2007 season at Daytona International Speedway in a GrandAm car for the Rolex 24-hour race. He teamed with Wayne Taylor, Jan Magnussen, and Max Angelelli to finish 3rd in the endurance race. He began the Cup season amidst some controversy after winning the Gatorade Duel at Daytona. Gordon was disqualified for a height infraction and started 42nd in the Daytona 500. A solid 10th place finish would be a prelude of things to come. After scoring 5 top-5 finishes in the next 6 races, Gordon visited victory lane for the first time in his Cup career at Phoenix International Raceway. He tied Dale Earnhardt with his 76th career win and saluted Earnhardt with a victory lap carrying the #3 flag around the track. The following week Gordon won at Talladega and then won again two weeks later at Darlington while his car was overheating. The only down week for Gordon was Memorial Day weekend at Lowes Motor Speedway. After making his way through traffic, Gordon was caught up in a wreck started by Tony Raines. Gordon's car flew backwards in the air but the driver emerged unscathed. In June he played race strategy perfectly and won the rain-shortened Pocono 500. However, crew chief Steve Letarte was suspended for 6 races in late-June due to a fender infraction at Infineon Raceway. Gordon posted top-10 finishes every week with interim crew chief Jeff Meendering to extend his points lead to more than 300. As the 'chase for the championship' neared, Letarte returned and the team went all-out for victories. They failed to score a win before the chase began and started the 10-race run to the title in 2nd place. Gordon scored back-to-back wins at Talladega and Charlotte in the chase to open a 68 point lead with 5 races to go. However, Gordon's teammate Jimmie Johnson won 4 consecutive races and coasted to the championship. Gordon ended the season with a modern-era record 30 top-10 finishes.