Jimmie Johnson Wins NASCAR's Daytona 500

Topics:  Jimmie Johnson, Daytona 500

VOA Sports
February 20, 2006

Driver Jimmie Johnson has won NASCAR's Daytona 500, just days after his crew chief was ejected from the racetrack for cheating.

Johnson posted one of the fastest times in time trials earlier in the week, but after officials inspected his Chevrolet, they said Chad Knaus had illegally modified the car.

Despite the loss of his crew chief, Johnson beat out Ryan Newman and Casey Mears to win the 200-lap, 805- kilometer-long race.

Defending NASCAR champion Tony Stewart took fifth place.

NASCAR - the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing - features highly stylized versions of U.S. production cars.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.