By Jim Utter, The Charlotte Observer –
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon ended up in Victory Lane.
Jimmie Johnson ended up in the garage.
Gordon stretched his fuel and held off Clint Bowyer to win Sunday’s Ford 400 — one week after the two drivers got in a wreck that turned into a pit road brawl.
Keselowski was forced to pit late in the race for fuel but his 17th place finish was still good enough to win the 2012 Sprint Cup Series championship. It is also the first title for Keselowski’s team owner, Roger Penske.
Keselowski’s nearest competitor, Johnson, finished the race in the garage with a broken drive line. Johnson finished 36th.
Ryan Newman finished third in the race, Ryan Newman was fourth and Greg Biffle was fifth.
Marcos Ambrose took early control of the race, leading the first 14 laps before turning the lead over to Kyle Busch.
Busch led 52 of the first 67 laps as he established he was clearly the class of the field.
Debris brought the first caution of the race on Lap 79 and all of the lead-lap cars pit for fuel and tires. Busch continued to lead on the restart on Lap 84 followed by Carl Edwards and Martin Truex Jr.
After 100 laps, Busch continued to hold a big advantage of Truex and Matt Kenseth.
Truex finally ran down Busch to take the lead on Lap 118.
A round of green-flag stops began on Lap 128. Once they were completed on Lap 134, Busch continued to lead followed by Truex and Johnson. Keselowski restarted in 12th.
Debris again brought out a caution on Lap 143. All of the lead-lap cars pit for fuel and gas and this time Johnson took over the lead on the restart on Lap 149 thanks to a two-tire pit stop.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wrecked on Lap 154 to bring out the third caution of the race. Kasey Kahne and seven other drivers elected not to pit under the caution and he took over the lead on restart on Lap 162. Keselowski restarted in seventh and Johnson in ninth.
Busch passed Kahne to take back the lead on Lap 162.
Another round of green-flag stops started on Lap 197. During the stops, Kahne was penalized for speeding on pit road.
Also, Johnson had to pit a second time for a missing lugnut on his left-front tire, which ended any chance he had at catching Keselowski for the championship.
Once the cycle of stops had been completed on Lap 218, Kyle Busch continued to lead with Keselowski in seventh. Johnson was 25th and one lap down.
Johnson reported smoke in his cockpit and was forced to pit for a serious mechanical problem on Lap 227. He eventually took his No. 48 Chevrolet to the garage, which handed Keselowski the title for all practical purposes.
Several drivers, including Busch, began making green-flag pit stops on Lap 244.
Gordon, who appeared to have enough fuel to make it to the finish, took over the lead on Lap 55.