Fate seems to have Brian Vickers and Jimmie Johnson inextricably linked. Vickers crashed into his, at that time, Hendrick Motorsports teammate to win at Talladega back in the Fall of 2006. Though Vickers moved on to Team Red Bull the following season, the two have remained friends. Earlier this year, Johnson and Vickers were interviewed while attending a dirt bike event at Daytona.
In Sunday’s running of the Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway, the two were once again fighting for a win. Vickers, Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin were all front runners trying to somehow squeak out a win on fuel mileage. With wheel work that would make a “hyper miler” proud, Vickers had enough to cross the finish first to get his first win since that fateful day in Alabama almost three years ago.
To hear Vickers and crew chief Ryan Pemberton tell it, “Red Bull Red” has
become quite adept at maximizing mileage when called upon. When NASCAR raced here in June there were front running cars running out on the final lap having gotten 47 laps out of the tank of gas. These guys were trying to get 51. Vickers said it seemed this season like than anytime that Pemberton needed him to get two laps on fuel, he’d get five. After winning six poles this season, he was able to close the deal and get Toyota its first win in the back yard of the “Big Three” automakers.
One driver not trying to conserve fuel at the end was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Initially questioning crew chief Lance Mc Grew’s call to come into the pits on the seventh and final caution, the maneuver enabled the “88″ to run full bore the remainder of the afternoon. For Earnhardt, his third place finish gives him his first top five since Talladega.
In finishing outside the top 30, Johnson conceded an Achille’s heel: fuel mileage management. The 3-time champion, who once again led 133 laps at Brookyln says “It’s just what we’re not good at. I think it’s a little too risky for us to even try it. We got lucky once in Phoenix. Outside of that we always come up short.” That’s 279 laps led for Johnson at Michigan without a win.
For Vickers, the win is fortuitous. He picks up another spot in the standings and sits in 13th for the season, just around 50 points behind 12th place Mark Martin, the biggest victim of the mileage gamble- finishing 31st.
Martin wasn’t the only driver who didn’t get the day he needed. Though he did make a brief appearance near the front, Kyle Busch ended up 23rd, giving up a pair of spots to wind up behind the rival he sparred with in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race. Juan Pablo Montoya finished 19th after contact from Kasey Kahne cut a tire. Ryan Newman had his fourth straight result outside the top 10 (15th). Roush- Fenway teammates Matt Kenseth (14th) and Greg Biffle (20th) are still in the top 12, but not by much. Kahne also finished outside the top 10 in 11th.
Junior wasn’t the only driver enjoying an unusually good day. Sam Hornish Jr. got his second top five in his last three races. Casey Mears led the charge for Richard Childress crossing the start/finish in sixth. Joey Logano- who was on Earnhardt’s heels for a time- took seventh. Clint Bowyer stays in the fight for top 12 contention with a an 8th place finish. David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top ten.
For Vickers and Team Red Bull, the victory is affirmation of their growth. Not
two years ago, Vickers was a “go or go homer”, the team looked to be in over its head, and Toyota was looking like the Detroit Lions of NASCAR. Last year, Vickers was a lot more competitive- breaking free of “go or go home “status- and if you’ll recall, he almost won the June race at Michigan captured by Dale Jr. This season, the “83″ team has been highly competitive- coming in to MIS with 3 top 5s and 10 top 10s. They just needed to succeed in shutting the door.
This race has changed that. Anyone thinking that Brian Vickers isn’t a serious chase contender needs to think again.
Next on Vickers’ check list is improving on an area of weakness for himself- short tracks- where he has an average finish of 25th. Next up? “Thunder Valley”- Bristol Motor Speedway under the Saturday night lights.
PHOTO CREDITS- Vickers celebration, Vickers and Pemberton by Jerry Markland/ Getty Images for NASCAR. Johnson and Vickers side by side by Harry How/ Getty Images. MIS restart by Jason Smith/ Getty Images for NASCAR.
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