DAYTONA BEACH – Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in the Daytona 500, with pole winner Danica Patrick becoming the first female driver to lead a lap at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnson, the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion won his second 500; the first one coming in 2006. He started ninth both times.
"I’m a very lucky man to have won it twice and (I am) honored to be on that trophy with all of those great names,” Johnson said in Victory Lane."
"I’m a very lucky man to have won it twice and (I am) honored to be on that trophy with all of those great names,” Johnson said in Victory Lane."
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“Chad Knaus and all of Hendrick Motorsports had me (in) a fast car and I could really stay up front all day long," Johnson continued. I had a lot of confidence in the final few laps leading the train, so I knew just how fast the car was."
The 55th annual Daytona 500 was Johnson’s 400th career start. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second after restarting eighth following the race’s fifth caution.
Earnhardt, in his No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet, charged through the field on the white-flag lap and helped catapult his teammate to victory.
Mark Martin, competing in his 29th Daytona 500 and 55th race at Daytona, piloted the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota to a third-place finish.
Martin moved up from the 10th spot in the final eight laps.
Photo by Tom Pennington/NASCAR via Getty Images / Headline Surfer / Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford, Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, Terry Labonte, driver of the No. 32 C&J Energy Services Ford, David Ragan, driver of the No. 34 Detail Doctor Ford, and David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Love's Travel Stops Ford,during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.“I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity,” Martin said. “There are a number of drivers that didn't get to have a shot at the Daytona 500, and I was at least close enough to have an outside shot. So I feel extremely lucky for that opportunity.
The race featured 28 lead changes among 14 drivers. The race also saw six cautions for a total of 24 laps, including one on the final lap shortly after Johnson took the white flag.
Twenty four drivers finished on the lead lap in the 43-car field.
The season-opening win by Johnson in the No. 48 Lowe’s car gives Chevrolet its 42nd Daytona 500 victory – the most by a manufacturer. Additionally, it gives Rick Hendrick his seventh Daytona 500 victory as an owner.
Previous related 2013 Daytona 500 coverage:
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