Johnson wins Aquos 500

FONTANA, Calif. – Jimmie Johnson grabbed a victory Sunday night at California Speedway, clinching a spot in NASCAR’s Chase for the Nextel Cup championship and guaranteeing he will be no worse than a tie for the top seed in the 10-race playoff.

Johnson dominated the second half of the Sharp Aquos 500, a race that began in bright sunshine with temperatures over 100 degrees and finished under the lights. It was his fifth victory of the season, but his first since May 6 at Richmond.

This one was just as important, though, with NASCAR awarding a 10-point bonus for each win this season in seeding the 12 drivers who will compete in the Chase.

There was some shuffling at the bottom of that group, with Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch each moving up one spot to 10th and 11th, respectively, while Kevin Harvick slipped from 10th to 12th.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., began and ended the race in 13th, despite a solid fifth-place finish. But he did cut his margin from 158 behind Busch coming in to 128 behind Harvick heading into next Saturday night’s race at Richmond.

Johnson, who took the lead for good after a series of green flag pit stops 32 laps from the end of the 250-lap event, easily held off runner-up Carl Edwards in the waning laps. Kyle Busch finished third, followed by Jeff Burton, Earnhardt and Matt Kenseth.

IRL

Tony Kanaan’s luck held up twice in the Detroit Indy Grand Prix.

The Brazilian, the leader after a late restart, had enough fuel to win the shortened race and avoid a last-lap melee that collected IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon and Kanaan’s Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti.

It was Kanaan’s series-best fifth victory this season and 12th of his career. Danica Patrick avoided the wreckage and earn her first career second-place finish. Dan Wheldon was third.

Champ Car

Justin Wilson won Champ Car’s Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, Netherlands, holding off Jan Heylen of Belgium to clinch his first race of the season.

Bruno Junqueira was third.