Jeff Gordon wins in Phoenix

« Pinch me, boy. Pinch me ". These were the first words of Jeff Gordon to his crew chief Alan Gustafson, as he killed his V8 Chevrolet in a smokey burn-out as soon as he crossed the finish line on the Phoenix oval. This dialogue takes on its importance when we know that the two men are only in their second race together? Gustafson was driving Mark Martin's car until 2010? and that Gordon, by beating Kyle Busch, ended 66 races without a victory. The last one he won in April 2009 in Texas, a year, ten months and twenty-two days without tasting the joys of the celebration on Victory Lane.

« It's so amazing, I can't even describe it to you., rejoiced the four-time champion, unable to contain his joy. I am so grateful to Rick Hendrick for everything he has done. It's been a long time since I won, I know, but I have to thank all my fans for that. Their encouragement, lately, has only inspired my motivation ". To reach this final outcome, Gordon took control of the race from Busch on the 304th of the 312 laps, or 500 kilometers, of racing. Of the total event, he led 138 laps.

Victorious in Arizona in the Truck Series and Nationwide rounds, Kyle Busch had the possibility of achieving a hat-trick the same weekend, a performance that only he had managed to achieve until then, in Bristol, last August, on the turnstile of ? mile. Unfortunately, as the Kid from Las Vegas pointed out, “ all it takes is one car to ruin a weekend. On this Sunday, it was the 24th? » Seule consolation pour le pilote de la Toyota du Joe Gibbs Racing, il s?empare de la tête du championnat devant son frère Kurt, 8e de l?épreuve. Il déloge ainsi Carl Edwards, le poleman, leader au soir de Daytona, qu?il a envoyé dans le mur au 59e tour. Incident dont Kyle a assumé l?entière responsabilité, s?excusant auprès du pilote de la Roush-Fenway.

Unlucky at the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet) found some color by completing the top three ahead of Kevin Harvick (Chevrolet), Ryan Newman (Chevrolet), Kasey Kahne (Toyota), Tony Stewart (Chevrolet), Kurt Busch (Dodge) , AJ Allmendinger (Ford) and Dale Earnhardt Jr (Chevrolet). Drivers that we are used to finding in the forefront and who had not been at the party in Florida the previous weekend. Trevor Bayne, the recent winner of the 500, on the other hand, did not experience the same success, concluding his performance after 49 laps and contact with the wall.

The event, finally, was marked by a “big one” on the 67th lap, involving 13 cars. Affected: David Reutimann, Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, Robby Gordon, Casey Mears, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, David Gilliland, Travis Kvapil, Bobby Labonte, Andy Lally, Regan Smith and Brian Vickers. To watch the video, click here.