Top 31 Moments: No. 7 -- Gordon grabs fifth Brickyard win
Editor's note: For the month of December, FOXSports.com will count down 31 moments that defined the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. This is No. 7.
A triumphant and emotional Jeff Gordon scored one of the biggest victories of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season when he won his record-setting fifth Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Gordon, the former Indiana resident, passed his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne on a restart on Lap 144 of 160 to set a record for Brickyard 400 victories. In the process, Gordon tied German Formula One legend Michael Schumacher for the most overall race victories at the historic track, which opened in 1909.
It was the 90th career victory for Gordon, his second on 2014, and an enormously popular one with the Indiana fans.
In the closing laps, Gordon could hear the cheers of his supporters.
"I was trying so hard with 10 to go not to focus on the crowd," said Gordon. "I could see -- every once in a while I'd glance up there and see the reactions and I'd try not to let it get to me. But, man, you can't help it. It's such a big race, such an important victory, a crucial moment in the season and the championship. The emotions take over. I've got my kids here. ... There's nothing better than coming to Victory Lane, especially with your family here."
Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth finished second through fourth, respectively, with Joey Logano taking fifth.
"We're proud of that," Busch said of the 2-3-4- JGR finish, "but you certainly see a guy out there (Gordon) in front of you beating you and you know you've got a lot of speed to gain. Those guys (Hendrick) were so fast."
"We wish it was 1-2-3, but this was the next best thing," added Hamlin.
It was a big day for the four-time champion right from the opening laps.
Kevin Harvick started from the pole, flanked by Gordon. Harvick led the opening lap, but Gordon blew past him on Lap 2, immediately opening a good-sized lead. By Lap 10, Gordon was out front 2.534 seconds, but that was wiped out by a competition caution on Lap 22.
Kahne snatched the lead on the restart, and on Lap 80 was 1.873 seconds up on Busch, with Harvick, Gordon and Logano in hot pursuit.
Then, on Lap 96, Trevor Bayne brushed the wall, cut a right-rear tire and spun out in Turn 3 as the track went yellow again.
Kahne went to the front on the restart, his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet looking strong, as Busch took second.
Ryan Truex stalled to bring out a caution on Lap 139, setting up some interesting strategy decisions. The top seven cars stayed out, with Harvick the first to pit from eighth place.
The track went green on Lap 144, Gordon taking the lead as Kahne slipped back and Busch moved to second, ahead of his teammate Hamlin. And once out front, that was all she wrote as Gordon scored his historic victory.
"This weekend we had the best car and the best team, no doubt about it," said Gordon. "That tells me that if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. It's certainly going to be a huge confidence boost for this team. We recognize the significance of this.
"It's so hard to gain confidence in this series," said Gordon. "But a Brickyard 400 win, it just doesn't get any better. I mean, to share that with that team that worked so hard, to see the look on their face, you can just see it in them now, you know, they believe."
