DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart
won the first of two Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying races under
caution Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, a half-lap after Danica Patrick took a vicious hit against the inside wall on the backstretch.
The caution flew after Stewart had led the field to the white flag, with race runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. in hot pursuit. Contact from Aric Almirola's
Ford launched Patrick's Chevrolet toward the inside SAFER barrier on
the backstretch, and impact with the wall was hard enough to lift all
four wheels of Patrick's car off the pavement.
Michael McDowell and Robby Gordon finished sixth and ninth, respectively, to race their way into Sunday's 54th Daytona 500.
Marcos Ambrose ran third after regaining a lost lap under a late caution, followed by Jeff Burton in fourth with pole-sitter Carl Edwards coming home fifth.
Stewart had led 10 consecutive laps when Michael Waltrip,
returning to the track after pitting for a splash of fuel, shot up the
banking and into the Turn 2 wall, simultaneously destroying his No. 40
Toyota and his prospects of racing in his 26th consecutive Daytona 500.
Stewart, the defending Sprint Cup champion, will
start third in the 500, with Earnhardt set to roll off fifth. Patrick
will start from the rear of the field in a backup car.
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