Jimmie Johnson Wins Daytona 500

Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 today beating out Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the final lap.

Danica Patrick, who made history earlier this week when she won the pole position, became the highest finishing woman in race history be claiming 8th place. Patrick was the first woman to lead a lap at the Daytona 500 today and was in the running for victory until the final lap.

A series of riders passed Patrick, who was riding in third at the start of the final lap, and the popular driver had to settle for 8th place.

For Jimmie Johnson, it was his second career Daytona 500 victory.

Johnson started to pull away with about 6 laps left and wasn’t challenged for the remainder of the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. came closest but he couldn’t catch Johnson by the finish line.

Hendrick Motorsports writes:

“As Johnson raced for the finish line and ultimately Victory Lane, Dale Earnhardt Jr. improved his position to score the runner-up result and give Hendrick Motorsports its fourth one-two finish at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. This is the organization’s third one-two finish in the Daytona 500 (February 1989 and February 1997).”

Mark Martin took third place while Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman completed the top five.