Motor Racing

Ernie Irvan, dominant early in the race, took the lead for good with 24 laps to go and held off Sterling Marlin the final 60 miles to win the Pepsi 400 at Daytona Beach, Fla., by two car lengths.

The 400-mile race culminated a week of tributes to soon-to-retire Richard Petty, whose final appearance as a driver at Daytona ended after 82 of the 162 laps because of fatigue brought on by heat that approached 100 degrees on the track and 130 degrees in the cars.

President Bush saluted Petty before the race, gave the drivers the command to start their engines and rode in the pace car before yielding the spotlight to Petty and the rest of the field.

The crowd of a little less than 100,000 spectators cheered wildly as Petty, the second-fastest qualifier behind Marlin, moved ahead of the pole winner heading into the first turn. He led the first five laps, but faded gradually before giving up.