Busch defends Food City 500 title

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Kurt Busch didn't need any bumping, banging or late-race dramatics. Good clean racing and a little luck was all it took to get him back into Bristol's winner's circle.

Busch, a runner-up three times this season, earned his first win of the year Sunday and defended his Food City 500 title by gambling on pit strategy and avoiding all but one of the 17 cautions at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Coming off last week's thrilling door-to-door battle with Ricky Craven that he lost, Busch had little competition as his Ford Taurus led the final 96 laps and easily held off Roush Racing teammate Matt Kenseth by .390 seconds.

Bobby Labonte was third in a Chevrolet, Ricky Rudd finished fourth in a Ford, Roush Racing rookie Greg Biffle was fifth and Sterling Marlin scored his highest finish of the season by coming in sixth in a Dodge.

The ending lacked the drama of last year, when Busch scored his first career victory by knocking Jimmy Spencer out of his way.

This year, he stayed patient as he coasted around the .533-mile bullring -- he spun out once midway through the race -- and let the bumping and banging go on behind him.

There were 17 cautions, three short of the race record, but only one was serious.

Purex Dial Indy 200

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Tony Kanaan led the Purex Dial Indy 200 for the final 41 laps to win his first Indy Racing League race in the IRL season opener.

Kanaan's Honda-powered Dallara beat Helio Castroneves, driving a Toyota-Dallara package, by .9328 seconds -- half a straightaway in front.

Monterrey Grand Prix

MONTERREY, Mexico -- Paul Tracy, off to by far the best start of his 13-year CART career, held off Michel Jourdain Jr. to win the Monterrey Grand Prix.

Tracy's Ford-powered Lola beat Jourdain's Team Rahal entry to the finish line by 2.039-seconds -- about half the final straightaway.

Malaysian Grand Prix

SEPANG, Malaysia -- Kimi Raikkonen of Finland won the Malaysian Grand Prix for his first Formula One victory.

Rubens Barrichello of Brazil was second, 39 seconds behind.

-- From wire reports