AVONDALE, Ariz. --- For most of the first two months of the Sprint Cup season, Hendrick Motorsports' fortunes seemed to be on fumes. On Saturday, the racing company won that way.

On the surface, Jimmie Johnson's victory at the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway appeared to be a fluke. As other cars stopped for gas in the final 10 laps, Johnson stretched his final tank over 82 laps, cycling to the front and coasting -- literally -- to his first win of the season.

In reality, Johnson had the most dominant car at the 1-mile track but had to overcome an error in pit strategy that shuffled him to the back of the pack. In the process, it seemed to restore Hendrick's stable of cars and drivers as a leading player.

"We're back," Johnson said. "We've been working very hard to get back."

Johnson led 109 laps early in the race, but crew chief Chad Knaus decided to skip a pit stop during an early caution. Johnson lost his track position on the next caution when he stopped for gas and tires while the other lead-lap cars stayed on the track. It took him the rest of the race to recover.

Everyone stopped with 82 laps to go after Kasey Kahne blew his right-front tire and hit the wall. Dale Earnhardt Jr., another Hendrick driver, and Mark Martin led over the next 71 laps, but both had to stop for fuel. So did 17 other lead-lap cars.

Johnson and Clint Bowyer both gambled they had just enough to finish.

"Well, we were getting really good mileage all day, especially on the long run," Knaus said.

Johnson inherited the lead when Martin, Earnhardt and Denny Hamlin made quick stops. Hamlin wound up third, followed by Carl Edwards, Martin, Jeff Burton, Earnhardt, Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch.

Casey Mears (11th) and Jeff Gordon (13th) gave Hendrick four cars in the top 13. Hendrick has one win in eight races this season after winning 18 of 36 a year ago.

"We know that we haven't been where we wanted to," Johnson said. "We've had some tough races for the team. I think that's made us stronger."