Vickers outlasts Johnson in fuel duel at Michigan
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Brian Vickers Team: Red Bull Racing
"Certainly frustrated," Johnson said. "We've won one race on fuel mileage ever. It's just what we're not good at. I think it's a little too risky for us to even try it."
Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Sam Hornish Jr. Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched his spot in the chase by starting Sunday's race, finished 17th.
With three races left before the cutoff for NASCAR's season-ending championship chase, the win provided a significant boost to Vickers' chances of qualifying. Vickers jumped one spot in the standings to 13th, and is only 12 points behind Martin for the 12th and final chase qualifying spot.
Martin apparently ran out of gas on the final lap and finished 31st.
It also was the continuation of a wild weekend for Vickers, who won the pole on Friday and then spent Saturday sparring with Kyle Busch.
Jimmie Johnson Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Vickers and Busch both are trying to climb into the top 12 in Sprint Cup points to qualify for the chase, and their rivalry ratcheted up during Saturday's nationwide race when they raced for the lead on the final lap and both were passed for the win by Brad Keselowski.
They exchanged words afterward, a confrontation Vickers called "ridiculous" and "unnecessary" Sunday night.
"I feel sorry for Kyle, that he lives that angry about something so small," Vickers said.
Vickers certainly got the best of Busch on Sunday, watching his rival come home 23rd. Busch slipped two spots to 15th in the standings.
And as if that wasn't enough drama, Vickers still isn't sure if he's returning to drive for his team next season.
"We have every intention of getting this done (quickly)," team general manager Jay Frye said.
Johnson had never won at
Mark Martin (5) and Brian Vickers (83) lead Jimmie Johnson, back center, Juan Pablo Montoya (42) and Kurt Busch during the NASCAR Carfax 400 Sprint Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, August16.
Johnson, Vickers and several other contenders made pit stops with 51 laps to go, seemingly just outside the window they'd need to make it to the end.
Earnhardt then pitted with 42 laps to go, while other leaders such as Johnson, Vickers, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick did not. The strategy call by Earnhardt's crew allowed him to drive all-out to go for the win while others had to drive conservatively in an attempt to save gas.
Earnhardt charged from sixth to third in the final 20 laps, but couldn't quite catch the leaders. Still, it was his best finish since a second in
Brian Vickers, driver of the No.83 Red Bull Toyota, celebrates winning the pole position for the
"I don't want to get too excited," Earnhardt said. "You want to be up front every week like this. You want to be up there the whole race."
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