DOVER, Del. - Jimmie Johnson's crew chief never thought his race team was anything but a top-notch outfit.

Chad Knaus knew all about Tony Stewart's incredible run to the top of the Nextel Cup standings and read about Roush Racing putting all five of its drivers in NASCAR's Chase for the championship. But Knaus wasn't worried.

"I'm not really sure what the perception is outside this team," Knaus said after Johnson took the points lead Sunday with a victory at Dover International Speedway. "I know the perception inside of the team, and that's that we are a championship team, and we've been waiting for the final 10 to get here."

Now, just two races into the Chase among the top 10 drivers, Johnson is the one who must be caught. And if last year is any indication of how strong he can be at the end, the rest of the elite could be in for a tough ride.

Johnson won four of the last six races in 2004 and finished second in the season finale to lose the title by eight points to Kurt Busch.

"One big factor is testing," Knaus said. "We've been saving our test sessions."

One of the nine allowable tests they didn't use paid off handsomely.

Johnson barely hung on Sunday to beat teammate Kyle Busch, then credited the rookie for helping him win.

"They were up here testing two weeks ago and we used their information," Johnson said. "I don't think Hendrick Motorsports had any new data on the track."

Still, it was no easy victory.

"He was all over me at the end, and that's the way it should be," Johnson said. "I've got to thank Kyle for being such a good teammate and racing me clean at the end."

Busch badly wanted his second career victory, but knew he had done all he could. He said there were no team orders preventing him from trying to beat Johnson.

"We were a little too tight at the end and couldn't get the fresh air we needed," Busch said. "I was hoping he might be a little looser and chase him up the track."

Tony Stewart, the Nextel Cup points leader for the last seven races, battled an ill-handling car en route to an 18th-place finish. The outcome also ended his streak of 13 straight top-10 finishes that included five victories.

"Obviously, something happened today," Stewart said. "This wasn't the way our car drove yesterday. But we'll be fine. We'll get caught up."

There would be no perfect weekend for Ryan Newman, who won poles for both races here and was coming off a victory Saturday in the Busch Series. Newman won the opening event in the Chase a week earlier, outdueling Stewart in a stirring finish at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Newman led the first 30 laps, but faded badly before recovering to finish fifth and stand third, 12 points behind the leader.

The victory in the MBNA 400 was the third this year for Johnson, who leads Rusty Wallace by seven points in the Chase among the top-10 drivers. Johnson also won for the third time at Dover and 17th overall.

Stewart came to The Monster Mile 20 points ahead of Greg Biffle, who won here in June. Stewart is tied with Biffle, who cut a tire and finished 13th. They're fifth, 23 points behind Johnson.

Johnson went to the front on the 375th lap by passing Mark Martin. Both had pitted a few laps earlier under caution, but Johnson took four tires and after the restart easily outraced Martin, who took only two.

"I knew we were in good shape once we got going on a long run," said Johnson, who credited Knaus with making the key decision on tires. "Chad said four was going to be better, and it worked out."