Vickers outlasts Johnson in fuel duel at Michigan

After winning three straight championships, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team have proved themselves masters of many things in NASCAR.

NASCAR

Winning races on fuel mileage isn't one of them.

Twice in just over two months, Johnson's team has gambled on gas in an attempt to win at Michigan International Speedway ¿ and both backfired. Johnson handed a win to Mark Martin in June, and Brian Vickers benefited from Johnson's fuel follies on Sunday.

"Certainly frustrated," Johnson said. "We've won one race on fuel mileage ever. It's just what we're not good at. I think it's a little too risky for us to even try it."

Although Johnson wasn't happy after leading 279 of 400 possible laps in two Michigan races and not even finishing in the top 20 either time, Sunday's gamble didn't cost him much. He is third in the points and in good shape for NASCAR's championship chase.

Rolling the dice on fuel mileage was perhaps a more surprising gamble for Vickers, given his small margin for error. Had he run out of gas Sunday, it likely would have blown any shot at making the chase.

Vickers won his second career race, boosted his chances of making the chase and delivered the first checkered flag for Red Bull Racing.

Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Sam Hornish Jr. Series points leader Tony Stewart, who clinched his spot in the chase by starting Sunday's race, finished 17th.

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Terra Autos / AP