Busch sweeps Brickyard 400

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS

Kyle Busch heard all about the potential to pull off a historic sweep at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

On Sunday, he accomplished the feat.

Busch led a record 149 of 170 laps and beat teammate Matt Kenseth to the finish line in a second overtime to win his second straight Brickyard 400. Coupled with an Xfinity Series victory a day earlier, Busch became the first NASCAR driver to win both poles and both races on the same weekend.

“I’ve never had a dominant car like this,” Busch said after celebrating his fourth win of the season with his wife and son. “This is obviously a special day and a special car.”

The impressive feat even overshadowed two other major story lines — Jeff Gordon’s comeback and Tony Stewart’s farewell.

Stewart finished 11th in his final race at Indianapolis, while Gordon was 13th. Gordon came out of retirement to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has battled concussion-like symptoms and has missed two consecutive races and will also sit out next week at Pocono. Gordon will replace him there, as well.

Afterward the two drivers who grew up in Indiana drove side-by-side around the 2.5-mile oval one last time.

“I have gained so much respect and admiration for Tony,” Gordon said. “I love this guy. I have always respected his talent.”

Everybody respected Busch’s talent this weekend, too.

The reigning Sprint Cup Series champion, who used last year’s win at the Brickyard to jumpstart his title campaign, joined third-place finisher Jimmie Johnson as the only back-to-back winners of NASCAR’s race at Indy. Johnson won in 2008 and 2009.

Busch surrendered the lead for 14 laps after his first pit stop, regained it when Brad Keselowski pitted, then gave it up again for only five laps when he made his second pit stop.

Everyone else spent their day chasing Busch.