Menard had just enough of a lead and just enough fuel to get it done as Jeff Gordon came up just short and finished second.
Qualifying
All four manufacturers were represented in the top four qualifying spots. Ford lead the way as David Ragan took the pole for Roush-Fenway Racing. Kasey Kahne put his Toyota on the outside of the front row.
Chevrolet started third in the person of Jimmie Johnson. Penkse Racing Dodges started fourth and fifth with Kurt Busch edging his teammate Brad Keselowski.
Drop Of The Green
Kasey Kahne pushed hard on the outside through turn two and took the lead as they made their way onto the long back straight.
Joey Logano made the save of the day in the early going. On lap 6 Dale Earnhardt Jr. got into Logano's left rear corner as they were racing into turn four. Logano was bumped sideways and drove a perfect powerslide all the way through turn four and out onto the frontstretch without hitting a thing.
Kasey Kahne dominated the early going. He took advantage of the clean air drove away from the competition while Jeff Gordon was on the move towards the front from his eighth place starting spot.
Storylines
In 2008 Goodyear was the story of the race. This year the tires haven't been the story at any race, and that's exactly how it should be. Goodyear should be a supporting player, not the star.
Congratulations to Goodyear engineers for getting a handle on their problems and putting consistent tires on the cars every week.
Chasing The Checkers
Tony Stewart had to pit out of the lead for fuel with 15 laps to go which left Paul Menard and Mark Martin running nose-to-tail for the lead. Jamie McMurray moved past Martin for second and the top five were all close together and trying to save fuel.
The leaders were running a full second per lap slower than the guys who pitted for fuel. This slow battle madefor some rare exciting Indianapolis racing.
McMurray took the lead with eight laps to go. With four laps to go the crew chiefs told the leaders to stop saving fuel and race for the win. Paul Menard immediately retook the lead and Mark Martin jumped up to second place.
Jeff Gordon continued to drive towards the front and quickly passed his way to second place and set his sights on Menard with two laps to go.
Gordon was chewing into the lead quickly but Menard had just enough lead to make it back to the checkers first.
A legendary Indianapolis name took the win. Congratulations to Paul Menard on his 2011 Brickyard 400 victory.
Top Ten
- Paul Menard
- Jeff Gordon
- Regan Smith
- Jamie McMurray
- Matt Kenseth
- Tony Stewart
- Greg Biffle
- Mark Martin
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Busch
The Points
Carl Edwards maintained the point lead but gave up some ground to his pursuers. The top six drivers are all within eighteen points of the lead.
Tony Stewart replaced Denny Hamlin in the top ten. Paul Menard's win puts him in the final wild card spot. Menard is fourteenth in points, one of three drivers in 11th - 20th with one win.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:
- Carl Edwards
- Jimmie Johnson -11
- Kevin Harvick -12
- Kyle Busch -16
- Matt Kenseth -16
- Kurt Busch -18
- Jeff Gordon -52
- Ryan Newman -64
- Tony Stewart -73
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -76
