Sports: Rookie Johnson a new winner with old tires

Knaus, crew chief for rookie Jimmie Johnson, gambled on the team's last pit stop Sunday, sending his driver back onto the 2-mile California Speedway oval without new tires.

Johnson made the fuel-only stop pay off, driving to his first Winston Cup win in the NAPA Auto Parts 500.

It was another race featuring NASCAR's suddenly omnipresent young guns.

Johnson, 26, held off Kurt Busch by about six car lengths on the 2-mile oval. Busch, 23, got his first Cup win last month in Bristol, Tenn.

"We knew it would be close," Johnson said. "These guys just let me do my job and we got it done. This is so cool."

Knaus, who got his first win in his second full season as a crew chief, said, "It paid off. I was going to get sick to my stomach and throw up after I made the call, but it worked out well."

His driver never questioned the gamble.

"The thought never crossed my mind to take gas only," Johnson said. "I remembered a pit stop earlier in the race when a few cars had done that and it worked out great for them. They got some track position and were able to do something."

The driver from El Cajon, Calif., about 100 miles south of Fontana, added, "When Chad made the decision, I smiled because I knew what it was going to do for us. It was going to put us out in front. I was just hoping that Kurt wasn't going to do the same thing."

It appeared Busch had the best car in the first half of the 250-lap race, building a lead of 15 seconds before a caution flag on Lap 141 brought him back to the other contenders. After that it was a see-saw race among Busch, former series champion Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd and Johnson.

Jarrett led when Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr., two more 20-something stars, wrecked in Turn 4 on Lap 229, bringing out the fifth and final caution flag. Bill Elliott stayed on the track as other contenders pitted and led for the restart on Lap 237. Johnson's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet passed Elliott's Dodge in Turn 1 and never trailed again.

Busch, driving the No. 97 Ford, passed Elliott, then passed Rudd for second on Lap 247, but couldn't catch Johnson.

Jeff Gordon, who co-owns Johnson's car with Rick Hendrick, saw his winless string stretch to 18, but the defending and four-time series champion pulled alongside his protege to bump the side of his car and give him a thumbs-up.

After trotting to victory circle to join the celebration, Gordon, who finished 16th, was all smiles.

"You rock, buddy," he said, hugging Johnson. "I guess we hired the right guy."

Asked if he was surprised that Johnson won so quickly, Gordon, only 30 himself and winner of 58 races, said, "When the right chemistry gets put together, it doesn't matter how many races you've got under your belt."

Johnson, whose best had been third last month in Atlanta, admitted he was a little surprised to win so soon.

"Heck, yeah," he said. "You always think you've got enough ability to win, but you never know until you get out there and do it."

Rudd was third, followed by Elliott. Mark Martin, Busch's teammate, rounded out the top five, then came series leader Sterling Marlin and defending race winner Rusty Wallace.

Busch wore a straw hat after the race in honor of team owner Jack Roush, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a plane crash April 19.

Roush was upgraded to satisfactory condition. Roush was initially listed in critical condition after being transported to University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital, but has since been moved from intensive care to a private room.

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