NASCAR Nextel Cup: Stewart Wins 2005 Brickyard 400

Unofficial 2005 Brickyard 400 Results from NASCAR

INDIANAPOLIS August 7, 2006; The AP reported that it wasn't his beloved Indianapolis 500, but the former IndyCar champion, who has longed to win a race at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, held off a determined challenge from Kasey Kahne to grab an emotional victory Sunday in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

It was the fourth victory in the past six races and seventh top-10 finish in a row for the hottest driver in NASCAR, moving him into the lead in the Nextel Cup standings for the first time since he wrapped up his only Cup title in 2002.

This one was up for grabs nearly to the end, with Stewart taking his first lead by passing Brian Vickers 60 laps from the end. But the 25-year-old Kahne, last year's top rookie, didn't make it easy, passing Stewart for the lead with 27 laps to go in the 160-lap event.

That brought a groan from the partisan crowd of more than 250,000, who were rooting hard for Stewart, a native Hoosier.

Stewart stayed with Kahne, though. After Jimmie Johnson -- who came into the race as the points leader -- blew a tire and hit the wall on Lap 144, bringing out the last of nine caution flags in the race, Stewart took advantage of the restart on Lap 150 to regain the lead.

Kahne hung onto the rear bumper of Stewart's No. 20 Chevrolet for a couple of laps, but Stewart finally began pulling away and raced on to win by 0.794-seconds -- about 5 car-lengths.

Stewart, who has climbed the fence to the flagstand after his most recent victories this year, jumped out of his car after the cooldown lap and stood at the bottom of the fence, popping open a can of soda and sipping.

After getting hugs from his crew, he laid down on the concrete wall at the bottom of the fencing, holding a checkered cloth to his forehead.

"I'm dying right now," Stewart said, grinning. "Too tired to chase fences right now. Give me five minutes and I'll be ready."

Asked about finally winning at Indy, he said, "I wish I could put it into words. It's been my entire life."

Kahne, who got his first Nextel Cup victory earlier this season at Richmond, was disappointed for himself but happy for Stewart.

"We had an awesome car," he said. "I just gave up a little bit through the restart. I couldn't do anything with it.

"It was a big win for Tony. He wanted to win this real bad."

Vickers finished third, followed by Jeremy Mayfield, Matt Kenseth, Casey Mears, Mark Martin and four-time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon.