Originally published October 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM | Page modified October 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM

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Auto Racing | Jimmie Johnson wins Pepsi 500, takes lead in NASCAR Chase

Jimmie Johnson sat in his No. 48 Chevrolet during a lengthy red-flag delay six laps from the finish at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday and...

By The Associated Press

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Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's Pepsi 500.

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FONTANA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson sat in his No. 48 Chevrolet during a lengthy red-flag delay six laps from the finish at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday and worried he didn't have enough car to hold off Jeff Gordon.

Gordon, a Hendrick Motorsports teammate, said Johnson didn't have much to fear.

It's California. It's the Chase for the Sprint Cup. It's Johnson's time.

"What else can you say? They're the best out there," runner-up Gordon said after Johnson roared away from the field to win the Pepsi 500 and take the lead in NASCAR's 10-race, 12-driver Chase. "They've won the last three championships.

"They're going to be hard to beat for this one. Really, unless they make a mistake, I don't see how they lose it."

Johnson's fourth victory at the 2-mile track gave him the points lead for the first time this season. Second-place Mark Martin is 12 points behind with six races left.

Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., was 20th and Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw was 34th of 43.

After a caution for debris bunched up the field for a restart, Kahne and Biffle collided with about 15 laps to go. The contact started when fellow Chaser Kurt Busch scraped the wall and the aftermath sent Biffle into Kahne. Biffle and Kahne slid across the infield grass.

"NASCAR threw a debris caution for no debris," a frustrated Kahne said. "We had a bad race to get a caution to put a show on for the fans."

Biffle is seventh in the Chase and Kahne is 11th.

Juan Pablo Montoya was third, his fourth consecutive top-five finish since the Chase started.

Note

• Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), Del Worsham (Funny Car) and Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel) won their categories at the NHRA Virginia Nationals in Dinwiddie.

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