Kyle Busch feels like a million with win
CONCORD, N.C. >> In a race built on brave, bold moments, Kyle Busch used one to win NASCAR’s annual All-Star race and its $1 million prize.
Busch used an aggressive three-wide pass for the lead Saturday night to take the All-Star event for the first time. “It was now or never,” Busch said. Although the race does not count in the standings, it was Busch’s first Cup victory of the season and first at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch also won the Truck Series race Friday, but the victory Saturday was the first time he’s ever been to victory lane at Charlotte in a Cup car.
His winning ways in lower divisions often gives fans a sour taste, but Busch was cheered as he excitedly pumped the checkered flag.
“I think they were just new winner,” he joked.
Busch dove low around Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson on the restart to take the lead on the final 10-lap glad to see a sprint. This year’s format pitted 10 drivers against each other for 10 final laps with the money on the line.
“I wouldn’t take anyone else but Kyle Busch on a restart,” said crew chief Adam Stevens.
Clean air was the difference and Busch was untouchable once out front.
“We have never won in Charlotte in a Cup car and we finally did that,” Busch said from victory lane. “We won a million dollars. There is reason to celebrate big. We are relieved, eluded and excited.”
Kyle Larson, winner of the first two 20-lap segments and the clear car to beat, finished second. He was stymied by a slow final pit stop that prevented him from restarting as the leader.
Carpenter takes top spot in crash-marred Indy qualifying
INDIANAPOLIS >> Ed Carpenter turned a tough draw into a winning hand. Now he has to do it all over again. The only full-time owner-driver in the IndyCar Series took advantage of a cooling early evening track for a four-lap average of 230.468 mph on the first day of Indianapolis 500 qualifying, Takuma Sato was second at 230.382, and Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy winner, third at 230.333.
All of the times will be erased for Sunday’s nine-car pole shootout when Carpenter chases his third pole in five years on his home track.
That was overshadowed by Sebastien Bourdais’ astonishingly hard, head-on crash. The French driver had just completed his second straight lap over 231 mph when his car wiggled going through the second turn, slid up the track and slammed into the wall. It flipped before coming to a stop in the back straightaway.
Doctors said the 38-year-old driver has multiple fractures in his pelvis and a fractured right hip.