Although he was probably just trying to be modest, "American Idol" winner David Cook said after last night's live coronation that just like the judges and probably like a lot of other people, he was prepared to "come in second."

Overcoming the shock of his surprise win, David Cook, who was voted last night by 56 percent of the 97.5 million voters, confessed to Access Hollywood that initially he didn't even realize he was the winner until after he began to congratulate his 17-year-old competitor, David Archuleta.

"When they said my name, I heard Archuleta, so I turned, then it processed as I was turning," Cook revealed. No wonder, since everyone appeared to be on Archuleta's side, except well, those who voted for Cook.

Moving past the fact that America embraced the rocker dude, probably because the audience was older this year, both Davids had nothing but good and kind words to say about each other. "I honestly thought that he had been more consistent," Cook said. "For a 17-year-old kid, never mind, for a performer he’s amazing. And it was an honor just to share the stage with him. I kept catching myself almost crying tonight through out the whole process ‘cause it was just like, ‘What am I doing here?’ But you know, it was a trip, it was heavy."

Runner-up Archuleta graciously mirrored Cook’s feelings saying, "He's like my big brother!" and "I just can't believe that people have decided for me to be next to him of all people!"

Just hours after the show, also following one of the most rare moments on "American Idol" when judge Simon Cowell apologized for his "silly" remarks a day earlier when he pretty much pronounced Archuleta a winner, Cook said he never felt disrespected, and didn’t take Cowell's words the wrong way.

"An apology from Simon is a rare gem!" the former bartender from Missouri said, but noted he didn't feel it was necessary. (Cowell told Archuleta after his performance the night before that "what we have witnessed is a knockout", later backtracking on his words telling Cook he was one of the nicest and most genuine contestants the show has seen, and allowing that the competition "wasn't quite so clear cut as we called it.")

"The fact that he was saying those things means that he's invested himself enough in who I am as an artist to want to give me his opinion," Cook explained.

Referring to Cowell’s unfair remarks during Tuesday night’s show, Archuleta said he was "glad" Cowell apologized, "Because I don't think anyone realizes how much work we put into this."

He also noted that he feels very relieved by the show's outcome. "You know, no more getting judged after each performance. It's like now we get to do what we love to do without it being viewed as a competition," Archuleta said.

Even though Cook won one of the most coveted titles in music today, he maintained his humble attitude until the end.

"I actually walked into this with no expectations, and I'm walking out of it with no expectations. I think this show is a springboard, but it's still a crapshoot," he said.