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Johnson wins Shootout

Jimmie Johnson put in some pretty impressive defensive driving for the final 16 laps of the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night to take a two-tenths of a second victory over Ryan Newman

The first leg, held over 20 laps, was won by Greg Biffle, who had started on the outside of the front-row. He came home ahead of Johnson, Newman, Casey Mears and Kurt Busch.

The order remained pretty static following the break until a massive pit-lane dive for the field on lap 47 when Biffle dived into the pits with 10 other cars. The remaining seven drivers made their stops just three laps later.

Newman, who pitted with the first group, chose to put on two tyres in a move which put him briefly at the front of the field before the chasing pack drafted past him, led by Johnson, Biffle and Jeff Gordon on lap 55.

Behind Johnson there was a mammoth battle going on, with Newman, Gordon, Biffle, Tony Stewart and Busch all vying to move up the order - which ensured Johnson had a less fraught time at the head of the field.

"If they've have gone through the grass I'd have gone there too," Johnson said. "I wasn't looking out of the windshield, it was all in the mirrors. I was trying to use the brakes, use the guys behind me in a way to keep them back there and keep myself in front."

Although Johnson kept a close eye in his mirrors, the fight behind was mostly decided by team tactics. Five laps to go Gordon powered past Biffle, only for Biffle to pick up a tow from team-mate Kurt Busch and retake second briefly, before Newman and Mears ensured Newman grabbed the second spot.

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