Gordon clinches Daytona 500 win

Gordon crosses the line to clinch his third Daytona 500 win

Nascar legend Jeff Gordon won the prestigious Daytona 500 for the third time in his career on Sunday.

The four-time Nascar champion's Hendrick Chevrolet crossed the finish line in the Nextel Cup's season opener 0.158 seconds ahead of Kurt Busch.

Former champion Tony Stewart dominated the race, but with five laps to go lost the lead to Dale Earnhardt Jr, who was then passed by Gordon.

Earnhardt Jr, Scott Riggs and Jimmie Johnson completed the top five.

Leading drivers Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth and Bobby Labonte all failed to finish with engine problems.

Gordon said: "I knew patience would pay off at the end... the best thing to happen to me was Kurt pushing past Earnhardt."

The race was relatively trouble free until two late multiple-car crashes.

A 10-car accident occurred on turn two of lap 184 and there was also an eight-car crash five laps later.