DAYTONA BEACH, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson ganó el domingo las 500 Millas de Daytona tras rebasar al campeón defensor de la NASCAR, Brad Keselowski, en el último tramo. Danica Patrick, primera mujer en la historia de la carrera en largar en la pole position, terminó en el octavo lugar.

Johnson no tuvo rival en las últimas seis vueltas y sumó otro título de Daytona 500 a su victoria de 2006.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. remontó en los últimos momentos y ocupó el segundo sitio, sin desafiar el avance de su compañero de Hendrick Motorsports a la victoria. Mark Martin cruzó la meta en el tercer lugar.

Patrick era la tercera en la vuelta final, pero se retrasó en una serie de movimientos en la última parte.

De todas formas, Patrick hizo historia al convertirse en la primera mujer que estuvo al frente varias vueltas en la Daytona 500. Encabezó la carrera en tres vueltas, y fue la corredora que logra la mejor posición final en la afamada competencia. En total, estuvo cinco vueltas en la punta. Janet Guthrie era la mujer que había cruzado la meta en mejor posición de la Daytona 500, cuando fue la 11ma en 1980.

"Pasas mucho tiempo pensando en qué hacer cuando te llega el momento", comentó Parick. "Le rogaba al cielo qué podía funcionar. Se necesita un margen de maniobra, recibir un poco de ayuda. Hoy tuve un poco de ayuda de aquí y de allá, pero presentía que iba a terminar atrasada, tenía la impresión de que los nervios me iban a afectar. Al final de la jornada, fue un día muy bueno".

Patrick, ex estrella de la IndyCar y ahora novata en la Copa Sprint, tuvo la posibilidad de disputarle el triunfo a Johnson en las últimas vueLtas. Pero se rezagó y bajó del tercero al octavo lugar cuando fue rebasada por pilotos más experimentados.

"Estuvimos básicamente entre los primeros 10 durante toda la carrera", indicó Patrick. "No hay que quejarse de eso. Fue bonito".

Patrick comenzó la carrera en la primera posición luego de convertirse en la primera mujer que se clasifica a ese lugar privilegiado de salida. Sin embargo, no pudo encabezar el primer giro y estuvo detrás de Jeff Gordon, tres veces ganador de la competencia.

Con todo, fue un momento magnífico para la NASCAR y para Patrick.

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    CORRECTS DRIVER OF NO. 31 TO JUSTIN ALLGAIER, INSTEAD OF JEFFERY EARNHARDT - Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne into the catch fence in a multi-car crash involving Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kilgerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

  • Kyle Larson, Regan Smith

    Kyle Larson, left, slides to a stop near Regan Smith (7) after a wreck at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

  • Kyle Larson, Parker Klingerman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Justin Allgaier

    Kyle Larson (32) goes into the catch fence as he collides with Justin Allgaier (31), Brian Scott (2), Parker Klingerman (77) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

  • Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Parker Kilgerman, Justin Allgaier , Brian Scott

    Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne into the catch fence in a multi-car crash including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kilgerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

  • Kyle Larson, Parker Klingerman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman

    Kyle Larson (32) goes into the catch fence during a crash involving, among others, Justin Allgaier (31), Brian Scott (2), Parker Klingerman (77) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Getting past is Alex Bowman (99). (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectator is treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Spectators injured

    Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Spectators injured

    Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectator is treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands.(AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectator is treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectator is treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Emergency officials put out a fire from driver Kyle Larson's engine after his car hit the wall and safety fence along the front grandstands on the final lap of a NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

  • Kyle Larson, Parker Kilgerman, Justin Allgaier , Brian Scott

    Kyle Larson (32) is airborne after a multi-car crash, including Parker Kilgerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson's car collided with the catch fencing. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

  • Injured Spectators

    Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

    An injured spectator is treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands.(AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Kyle Larson

    A tire rests in the stands after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands injuring spectators. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • An injured spectator is transported by emergency personnel after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driver Kyle Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands. Larson's engine lays on the right, inside the fence.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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  • Kyle Larson

    Driver Kyle Larson gets out of his car, which is missing the engine, after hitting the wall and safety fence along the front grandstands on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

  • Kyle Larson

    A tire from a car lies in the seats after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kyle Larson's car hit the catch fence during the wreck. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Kyle Larson

    Kyle Larson's car (32) gets airborne during a multi-car wreck on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Tony Stewart, in the red car at front, won the race. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Kyle Larson

    Kyle Larson's car (32) gets airborne during a multi-car wreck on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Tony Stewart, in the red car at front, won the race. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Kyle Larson

    Kyle Larson's car (32) gets airborne during a multi-car wreck on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands injuring spectators. (AP Photo/David Graham)

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    Kyle Larson (32) and Elliott Sadler (11) slide off the track after Larson hit the wall and safety fence along the front grandstands on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

  • Kyle Larson

    Kyle Larson's car (32) gets airborne during a multi-car wreck on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Kyle Larson

    Officials look at the engine and tire of driver Kyle Larson's car after he was involved in a multi-car crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson's car hit the safety fence sending car parts and other debris flying into the stands injuring spectators. (AP Photo/David Graham)

  • Injured Spectators

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  • Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Parker Kilgerman, Jeffery Earnhardt , Brian Scott

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  • Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Parker Kligerman, Justin Allgaier , Brian Scott

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  • Kyle Larson, Parker Kligerman, Justin Allgaier , Brian Scott

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  • Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Parker Kligerman, Justin Alllgaier, Brian Scott, Alex Bowman

    Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne and into the catch fence in a multi-car crash involving Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

  • Track workers repair the safety fence along on the front grandstands, where Kyle Larson's car hit it on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

  • Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Parker Kligerman, Justin Allgaier , Brian Scott

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  • Kyle Larson

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    Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne into the catch fence in a multi-car crash including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

  • Kyle Larson, Regan Smith

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