HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — After 10 months, 36 races and endless questions about defending his Nextel Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson could finally relax.

“South Beach, here we come,’’ said Johnson, who promised to “watch the sun come up and smile.’’

Another title was his, and he was going to savor it, too.

Johnson became the first driver to win consecutive championships since Jeff Gordon in 1997 and ‘98, wrapping up the title by finishing a trouble-free seventh in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Matt Kenseth won the race.

When it was over, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were already thinking about a third.

“We’re just really hitting our stride,’’ Johnson said. “I think that we have a lot of good years ahead of us and we’ll be fighting for more championships and certainly winning more races as the years go by, and hopefully be a three-time champion in the near future.’’

This Sunday drive was a coronation, and Johnson knew it. Deep down, so did everyone else, too. NASCAR is changing eras next season, but the Johnson era atop the sport is just getting started.

Team owner Rick Hendrick was along for the ride when Gordon ruled the sport, and said it’s clear this is Johnson’s time now.

“Jimmie’s just getting better and better, phenomenal,’’ Hendrick said. “He’s as determined as anybody I’ve ever seen sit down in a race car. I don’t see anything that’s going to slow Jimmie down.”

Johnson came into the event with a cushy 86-point lead over Gordon, his friend, mentor and teammate at Hendrick Motorsports. Although Johnson only needed to finish 18th or better, he refused to play it safe and Knaus gave him a pole-winning car.

Johnson led the first lap to earn a quick five-point bonus, then settled in for the 400-mile ride into the record books. It put it out of reach for Gordon, who was hoping to add a fifth Cup title to his dream season.

Gordon became a father in June, won six races and his fourth-place finish Sunday was his NASCAR-record 30th top-10 finish of the year.