The very exclusive club of drivers who managed to win the both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 races in same season, so far comprised of Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson, got a bit bigger after this weekend's race.
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray is the third member of that unofficial club, after he managed to take the Brickyard race. By doing so, he also secured another premiere, this time for team owner Chip Ganassi, who became the first owner to take Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 in one season.
"I'm speechless," Ganassi said according to Autosport. "I'm lucky and privileged to be in this business. I am honoured to work with the people I work with. That is all I can tell you. I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. You wouldn't dare dream this, you wouldn't dare to dream this kind of year. That is the kind of year it has been."
For most of the race, McMurray had to fight team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya, who was even on a verge to win, hadn't it been for a quick change in tire strategy. With with 22 laps to go, a late caution allowed McMurray to change his right-side tires and position himself in front of the pack. Although losing the position to Harvick, he charged back and raced to the finish line.
"Honestly when Juan was leading and I was in second, and I am a big believer in fate and I just thought this is the way it's meant to be," McMurray said after the race. "I thought well I won the Daytona 500 and Dario won the Indianapolis 500 and then Juan is going to win this race.”
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray is the third member of that unofficial club, after he managed to take the Brickyard race. By doing so, he also secured another premiere, this time for team owner Chip Ganassi, who became the first owner to take Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 in one season.
"I'm speechless," Ganassi said according to Autosport. "I'm lucky and privileged to be in this business. I am honoured to work with the people I work with. That is all I can tell you. I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. You wouldn't dare dream this, you wouldn't dare to dream this kind of year. That is the kind of year it has been."
For most of the race, McMurray had to fight team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya, who was even on a verge to win, hadn't it been for a quick change in tire strategy. With with 22 laps to go, a late caution allowed McMurray to change his right-side tires and position himself in front of the pack. Although losing the position to Harvick, he charged back and raced to the finish line.
"Honestly when Juan was leading and I was in second, and I am a big believer in fate and I just thought this is the way it's meant to be," McMurray said after the race. "I thought well I won the Daytona 500 and Dario won the Indianapolis 500 and then Juan is going to win this race.”