BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Michigan International Speedway is known as a fuel-mileage track, and it lived up to its reputation in Sunday's Sprint Cup event.
Despite leading the most laps of any driver, Lowe's driver Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line sixth after giving up the lead with fewer than 20 laps remaining to come down pit road for fuel.
Johnson led six times throughout the day for a total of 65 laps. He took the lead as early as lap 6 and led for the final time from laps 151 to 182, when he gave up the lead on the 43-car field.
After receiving two cans of fuel and four fresh tires, Johnson returned to the two-mile track in the 24th position. He was able to climb back to sixth in the closing laps.
"I was disappointed with the finish because the car handled better than that all day long," said Johnson, who started the event sixth. "This track always does something weird at the end and we do the opposite. Chad (Knaus, the crew chief) called a good race -- it's just the way it works out, and we've had more slip away from us here than anywhere. But all in all (it was) a great day, and I am very proud of this Lowe's Impala SS team. ... We're getting better."
While Johnson was visiting pit road for Sunoco fuel, his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a gamble and inherited the lead when others began pitting for gas. As a result, he was able to hold on to take the checkered flag, ending his 76-race winless streak.
"I am happy for my teammate, and it's great for those guys to win and get Hendrick Motorsports another victory this year," Johnson said.
Johnson's sixth-place result was his seventh top-10 of the season and moved him to fifth in the championship point standings.
Earnhardt Jr.'s win is Hendrick Motorsports' second of the season. It is also the first time a Chevrolet has visited victory lane at Michigan International Speedway since Jeff Gordon won there in June 2001.
Gordon crossed the line 18th, and Casey Mears was 30th.
Rounding out the top five were Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers and Tony Stewart.
Kyle Busch continues to hold the top spot in the series' driver point standings, ahead of Jeff Burton, Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Johnson.
The next stop for the series will be Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The June 22 road-course race is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on TNT.
TOP 10 FINISHERS AT MICHIGAN
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Brian Vickers
5. Tony Stewart
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Carl Edwards
8. David Regan
9. Elliott Sadler
10. Jamie McMurray
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS' FINISHING POSITIONS
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. Jimmie Johnson
18. Jeff Gordon
30. Casey Mears
TOP 12 IN POINTS AFTER MICHIGAN
1. Kyle Busch
2. Jeff Burton -32
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -84
4. Carl Edwards -206
5. Jimmie Johnson -254
6. Denny Hamlin -287
7. Kasey Kahne -324
8. Greg Biffle -329
9. Jeff Gordon -337
10. Kevin Harvick -396
11. Tony Stewart -439
12. Clint Bowyer -449
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS' POINTS POSITIONS
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -184
5. Jimmie Johnson -254
9. Jeff Gordon -337
27. Casey Mears -862
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. (all times Eastern)
Friday, June 20
Sprint Cup practice, 3:30 p.m., SPEED
Sprint Cup qualifying, 7 p.m., SPEED
Saturday, June 21
Sprint Cup practice, 12:30 p.m., SPEED
Sprint Cup final practice, 1:30 p.m., SPEED
Sunday, June 22
Sprint Cup race, 5 p.m., TNT
