Sunday, March 1st 2015, 23:26 GMT
Jimmie Johnson claimed victory in the Atlanta NASCAR Sprint Cup race despite missing qualifying.
Hendrick’s six-time champion was among a group of cars that did not make it through a controversial technical inspection in time to run in Friday’s qualifying session, leaving him 37th for the start.
Johnson made steady progress through the pack and then began a lead battle with reigning champion Kevin Harvick in the second half of the race.
Harvick’s charge had been even more impressive than Johnson’s. His front row start had been lost when an engine failure in Saturday practice put him to the back for the race, but he surged up the order to take the lead from polesitter and early dominator Joey Logano on lap 87 of 325.
The Stewart-Haas driver controlled the middle section of the race before eventually losing out to Johnson, who broke decisively clear in the final 14-lap sprint following a red flag for a multi-car pile-up triggered by Greg Biffle and Joe Nemechek colliding.
