Since you are just bonding the gas pipe, I think it would be compliant to run your GEC to the ground rod and tap off (splitbolt) to the gas pipe.thanks Augie, that's exactly what I was asking. When you say "There are other ways to connect at the pipe that would allow you to hit it first." could you elaborate?
Thanks
To some degree the entire scenario may be mute if it's standard gas piping as 250.104(B) allows the piping to be bonded by the equipment grounding conductor connected to the equipment served.
As Dennis mentioned, CSST piping is an entirely different animal.