Paul Menard is a NASCAR Sprint Cup winner, claiming the 18th-annual Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon finished second, followed by Regan Smith, Jamie McMurray, and Matt Kenseth.
Tony Stewart was sixth, followed by Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch. Polesitter David Ragan was among the drivers who pitted late and finished a distant 23rd after running in the top-10 all race.
It is the third Brickyard 400 triumph for Richard Childress Racing, as the late Dale Earnhardt won in 1995 and Kevin Harvick won in 2003.
Gordon was seeking to become the first man to win five races on the oval configuration at the Speedway and came within a few car lengths after pitting late for fuel. Menard was one of several drivers, including Smith and McMurray, who slowed their pace significantly to try to make it to the finish, while Gordon chased them down from behind. The final margin of victory was .725 seconds.