Le Nascar enchaîné

Une tradition veut que celui qui remporte Indianapolis sera sacré champion à la fin de l'année. Hier, toute les conjonctions possibles étaient présentes pour que ce soit Jeff Gordon qui gravisse la Victory Lane: Le "Jeff Gordon's Day", les 20 ans de sa première victoire ici, le fait qu'il reste le plus jeune vainqueur à Indy en Nascar, seule manquait la moustache. Le leader du classement général s'impose donc comme grandissime favori de la saison 2014, mais devient également le chef de file de la Hendrick Motorsport, devant le polychampion Jimmie Johnson, étrangement absent hier, relegué à la 14ème place, loin de son propriétaire de coéquipier. Kyle Busch fût lui rapide, mais pas assez, le leader de la Joe Gibbs signe ici un bon résultat, lui apportant moisson de points au général. A l'instar de Denny Hamlin et Matt Kenseth, ses coéquipiers, qui signent les 3 et 4ème places. Le Top 5 est complété par un Joey Logano que l'on a peu vu, mais qui s'est montré terriblement efficace! (Photo de Patrick Smith, NASCAR via Getty Images)

Kasey Kahne aurait pu remporter sa première victoire de la saison et ainsi s'assurer une place de chaser, mais des pneumatiques en fin de vie l'ont vu passer devant les 6 sus-nommés. Leader d'une majorité de tours hier, peut-être que le récipiendaire Hendrick se réveille enfin. A surveiller dans les courses à venir, car il ne reste plus beaucoup de chances de chopper un ticket pour le chase..

Le premier des rookies, Kyle Larson, finit juste derrière. Danica Patrick, elle tâtait pas loin du top 10, avant que sa transmission ne la trahisse malencontreusement. Une course parfois ennuyeuse jusqu'aux trente derniers tours où l'excitation de voir Gordon signer une victoire historique à prévalu. (Avec Michael Schumacher, sur le tracé F1), il devient l'homme le plus victorieux sur ce circuit avec 5 victoires (5 pour Gordon en NASCAR Sprint Cup Series et 5 pour Schumi sur le tracé F1). 

Le moins bon des pilotes dans le tour (26ème) est Michael Mc Dowell, qui signe un honnête résultat.

English official release:

As he crossed the yard of bricks, and the significance of his fifth victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway hit him like a ton of bricks, Jeff Gordon reveled in the moment that propelled him to victory in the Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at The Brickyard.

"God! I finally had the restart of my life," Gordon shouted into his radio mic, recalling the move just 15 minutes earlier that launched him past Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on Lap 144 of 160 in Sunday’s marquee NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Twenty years removed from his victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400, Gordon finished 2.325 seconds ahead of Kyle Busch who with teammates Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth finished 2-3-4 in the 20th Sprint Cup race of the season.

The win was the 90th of Gordon’s career, third-most all-time, his second of the season and, of course, his record fifth at IMS, breaking a tie with teammate Jimmie Johnson for most Cup wins at the Brickyard. The win also clinched Gordon a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming he attempts to qualify for the remaining six races of the regular season.

And though open-wheel purists may blanch at the notion, Gordon is the first driver in any series to win five races on the legendary 2.5-mile oval that has played such an integral role in the history of motorsports in the United States.

"I’m not very good on restarts and wasn’t very good today, but I finally got the restart of my life today when it counted most," said Gordon, who gave Chevrolet its 12th straight Cup victory at Indy. "Once I got clear, I was thinking like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening now...’

"I was trying so hard with 10 (laps) to go not to focus on the crowd," added Gordon, who increased his series lead over teammate and ninth-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. to 24 points. "Every once in a while, I’d glance up there and I could see the reaction. I was trying not to let it get to me and not think about it too much. And yet you can’t help it.

"It’s such a big place and such an important victory and a crucial moment in the season and the championship, and those emotions take over. I have my kids here. There’s nothing better, especially at one of the biggest races, to have your family here. ... This one is for all those fans throughout the years and all weekend long. They’re saying ‘We believe you can get number 5.’ We got number 5—yes!"

If Gordon had trouble believing the outcome, team owner Rick Hendrick did not. In fact, Hendrick had a premonition about the race.

(*) Pilote rookie cette saison.
(i) Pilote ne marquant pas de points dans cette série.