(Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)
Blue skies, no rain and hard racing were the forecast for the Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway. It was the first time since the Brickyard 400 that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was able to escape rain showers and race on a clear Sunday afternoon.
For the sixth time this season Brian Vickers led the field to the start, running alongside 50 year old Mark Martin.
Fuel mileage was on every drivers mind when the field took the green around 2:20 Eastern time. By taking the green, points leader Tony Stewart officially locked himself into the Chase.
Past the start finish line the third place car of Montoya was all over the back of Vickers as Martin jumped out to an early lead. Kurt Busch, who's team owner Roger Penske built this track, passed Vickers for third.
Kyle Busch, who started 39th, was hurriedly trying to gain positions, running 31st after just two laps.
Vickers fell back to fourth by lap four after Jimmie Johnson also got by him. The No. 83 would pass him the following lap, and start his pursuit of the No. 2 of Busch.
A light mist began falling as, further back in the pack, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer had a heated side by side battle.
Kasey Kahne ran 29th, after starting in the rear for an engine change, as the first caution of the day came out on lap seven. Despite their being just a 10 percent chance of rain, rain drops caused NASCAR to throw the yellow flag.
A red flag was thrown shortly afterward, halting the cars on pit road. Kyle Busch reported to his crew "Uh, they lost the track, man. Torrential downpour in turn one."
"It cam in quick. We had some dribbles here and there before the race started, but I didn't think it was a problem," Vickers said. "Then the bottom just fell out of the sky and NASCAR threw the caution."
"Well we had a pretty decent car all weekend, so I think we should've gotten by a few of those cars," Kahne, who had moved up 11 spots in the first eight laps, said. "(Kyle Busch and I are) both going to get better after we pit."
After the 18 minute red flag NASCAR put the caution flag back out. Bobby Labonte, who believed he had a cylinder down shortly before the red flag, stayed on pit road after the cars re-fired. He would eventually go to the garage.
Twelfth place driver and Saturday's Nationwide Series winner Brad Keselowski led much of the back half of the field onto pit road.
Mark Martin chose the outside line as he and second place car Kurt Busch led the field to the green on lap 11. Martin immediately jumped out to a lead as Johnson raced Busch side by side.
The No. 11 of Hamlin and No. 42 of Montoya made their way past Vickers for fifth and sixth as Johnson made a move on Busch for second.
A cluster of cars including Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Reed Sorenson battled back and fourth in the middle of the pack.
On lap 17 Johnson was right on the bumper of Martin, stalking the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet before attempting a pass on the bottom. Martin closed the door, keeping his teammate at bay.
Johnson made it by his teammate on lap 24, passing him to the inside before moving back up the track. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch ran 23rd after starting the race in 39th.
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