Jimmie Johnson waves the checkered flag after winning his second Daytona 500 on Sunday. (Photo: Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson won his second Daytona 500, passing defending series champion Brad Keselowski on a restart with 19 laps remaining Sunday and fending off Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s last-lap charge. Danica Patrick, who started from the pole position and became the first woman to lead the Great American Race, finished eighth after entering the last lap in third position. Earnhardt was runner-up followed by Mark Martin, Keselowski and Ryan Newman. LEADERBOARD: 55th Daytona 500 Greg Biffle, Regan Smith, Patrick, Michael McDowell and J.J. Yeley rounded out the top 10. The two pre-race favorites were eliminated from contention Sunday at Daytona International Speedway in a multicar wreck on the 34th lap. The nine-car accident was triggered when Kyle Busch bumped Kasey Kahne in Turn 1, and Stewart, Harvick, Kahne and the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolets of Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya suffered major damage. Defending series champion Brad Keselowski was involved, but his team repaired the damage. Tony Stewart, who has 19 wins at Daytona but none in the Great American Race, will have to wait another year. Kevin Harvick, who was attempting the trifecta after winning the exhibition Sprint Unlimited and one of the Budweiser Duel sprints,was caught up in the same nine-car crash early. "If I didn't tell you I was heartbroken and disappointed I'd be lying to you," Stewart said. "We had a car that was really, really good." Harvick, who won the 2007 Daytona 500, had entered the race as a favorite after winning the Sprint Unlimited and a Duel qualifying race. "That's just part of this game," Harvick said. "We'll rebound next week in Phoenix and get on with our season." With just over 60 laps to go, another multi-car wreck occurred when Brad Keselowski was bumped from behind by Trevor Bayne. Though Keselowski saved his car, Bayne started spinning and collected all three Front Row Motorsports cars -- Josh Wise, David Gilliland and David Ragan -- as well as Terry Labonte, Austin Dillon and Carl Edwards. And Matt Kenseth -- in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, and teammate Kyle Busch -- experience engine woes. Sunday's Daytona 500 came a day after a horrific crash on the frontstretch during Saturday's Nationwide race sent an engine through a catchfence and tires and debris into the stands. Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood said Sunday morning that the fence had been repaired, but without the crossover gate, and no other enforcements had been added or modifications made. Story Highlights
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/02/24/2013-daytona-500-winner-jimmie-johnson-dale-earnhardt-jr-danica-patrick-nascar/1943461/