Gordon says Kenseth is main threat

Gordon has enjoyed considerable success on seven of the 10 tracks that will decide this year's championship, although he has never won a race on the final three of the season.

"The team is getting better and better all the time, I feel really good about things," said Gordon. "The only guy that has more momentum than us right now is Kenseth."

Kenseth will begin the Chase as championship leader, while Gordon is ninth, just 45 points behind, and he was especially relieved to make the chase this year after missing out in 2005.

"The thing that's keeping me smiling is that we're in it," he said. "We've had to fight hard all year long, because we know what it feels like not to be in it."

The Hendrick Motorsports driver may be the only former champion to have made it into the Chase this year, but he doesn't feel that his previous experience is much of an advantage.

"Experience helps you know that you've been through a lot of different situations and helps you to stay calm,'' he said.

"It helps you to be consistent, but when you're dealing with 10 guys instead of just a couple, it's not just about that," he said.

"You've got to really push in the Chase, and when it comes to that, I don't feel like I've won any championships."