Irvan Wins One for the Skeptics

Completing a remarkable struggle from near death to victory lane, Ernie Irvan ended any doubts about his ability to reclaim a spot among NASCAR’s elite drivers.

“Until you win, you never know if you’re going to do it again,” said Irvan, who won the Jiffy Lube 300 on Sunday at Loudon, N.H., for his first victory since crashing at Brooklyn, Mich., on Aug. 20, 1994. “Maybe this will shut them up.”

Irvan was out of the hospital several weeks later and, after sitting out 14 months, returned for the final three races last year. He entered the race with eight top-10 finishes this year, including a second.

Irvan, who won on a day when Indy-car driver Jeff Krosnoff was killed in a crash in the Toronto Molson-Indy, took the lead on the 276th lap and easily beat teammate Dale Jarrett to the finish by 5.5 seconds.

It was Irvan’s 13th career victory and first since May 1994.

“Hat’s off to Ernie,” Dale Earnhardt said. “His team stuck behind him and he made it back to victory lane. He did a great job and it’s great to see him back in the winner’s circle.”

Irvan started sixth and led several times for short stretches, including when Jeff Gordon lost power on the 237th lap.

Gordon, the defending champion and third in the overall point standings, was slowed by two ignition failures, and wound up 34th.

That opened the way for Terry Labonte to overtake Earnhardt for the points lead. Labonte, who started the day five points behind Earnhardt, finished sixth.

Ricky Rudd finished third and Jeff Burton fourth on the hot, sunny day before 82,000.

*

Formula One rookie Jacques Villeneuve, overshadowed all season by teammate Damon Hill, won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, England.

Villeneuve, a 25-year-old French Canadian starting from the No. 2 spot with Williams-Renault teammate Hill on the pole, got a flying start and led virtually the entire race. He finished 19.026 seconds ahead of Gerhard Berger in a Benetton-Renault and 50.830 ahead of Mika Hakkinen in a McLaren Mercedes.

Villeneuve finished in 1 hour 33 minutes 0.874 seconds with an average speed of 124.017 mph. Hill, winner of six races this season and the favorite, got a terrible start and went out in a spin on the 27th lap when a front wheel locked up. He has 63 points to 48 for Villeneuve with six races remaining.