Brooklyn, MI (Sports Network) - Greg Biffle won at Michigan International
Speedway for the third time by taking Sunday's Pure Michigan 400.
Jimmie Johnson led the way in the closing laps, but Johnson's engine blew up,
allowing Biffle to take the lead. Biffle had moved ahead of second-place
runner and Michigan-native Brad Keselowski just before Johnson's mishap.
Johnson's expired engine led to a caution and therefore set up a green-white-
checkered finish. Biffle held off Keselowski in the final two laps and beat
him to the finish line by 0.4 seconds.
Biffle moved into the points lead after scoring his second win this year. His
first victory of the season came in April at Texas. He also gave team owner
Jack Roush his record 12th win at this two-mile racetrack.
Kasey Kahne finished third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had to start
from the rear of the field in a backup car. Earnhardt Jr. wrecked his primary
vehicle in Saturday's final practice session. Marcos Ambrose, last weekend's
race winner at Watkins Glen, N.Y., completed the top-five.
Johnson also started from the back of the field due to an engine change the
day before the 400-mile race. His teammate, Jeff Gordon, had an issue with his
motor as well, which put him behind the wall for more than 30 laps. Johnson
finished 27th, one spot ahead of Gordon.
A frightening crash occurred on lap 64 when pole sitter Mark Martin slid on
pit road and then slammed sideways into the end of a pit wall. The wall sliced
into the right side of his car, which caused a small fire. Neither Martin nor
any team members were injured during the incident.
Martin and Kahne wrecked coming out of turn four, where Bobby Labonte lost
control and bumped into Juan Pablo Montoya, collecting Martin and Kahne in the
process.
The Sports Network