Not only does Newman break a winless streak dating back to the first ‘Chase' race of 2005, he also gives Roger Penske the
Daytona 500 victory that had thus far eluded him. Second place for Busch was simply the icing on the cake and was especially sweet for the 2004 Cup Champion, who began the week on probation for his practice altercation with, of all people, Stewart and who began the race from 43rd and last position after retiring from his qualifying race.
Stewart found it tough to mask his disappointment at finishing third in a race where he led at the white flag but his disappointment paled in comparison to that of his teammate Busch, who led a race high 86 laps before slipping to fourth in the final three laps after his mis-timed restart move on Burton. However the performance of the Gibbs stable, and Toyota as a whole, has made the rest of the Sprint Cup garage sit up and take notice.
Reed Sorenson was delighted to round out the top five in the #41 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge and Dodge's day of days was completed by Gillett-Evernham teammates Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, who took sixth and seventh and by new Dodge convert Robby Gordon, who claimed a superb eighth.
Earnhardt Jr was the first Chevrolet home in ninth spot, ruing the decision to keep the same set of tyres for the final 50 laps while Biffle was the leading Ford runner home in tenth spot.
Bobby Labonte narrowly missed out on making it seven Dodges in the top ten as he took eleventh place ahead the flag with Brian Vickers giving
Red Bull Racing a top 12 finish in their first Daytona 500 appearance. Burton faded to 13th with defending ‘500 winner Harvick 14th and Sam Hornish Jr a well deserved 15th after a very strong, sensible run in the third Penske entry.
![New Penske teammates Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch confer with crew-chief Roy McCauley in the Vegas garage. [Pic Credit Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/192834.jpg)
