2005 Batman Begins 400
Race details[1][2][3]
Race 15 of 36 in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
2005 Batman Begins 400 program cover
2005 Batman Begins 400 program cover
Date June 19, 2005 (2005-06-19)
Location Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Course Permanent racing facility
2.0 mi (3.219 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.737 km)
Weather Mild with temperatures approaching 73 °F (23 °C); wind speeds up to 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
Average speed 150.596 miles per hour (242.361 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Penske Racing
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 97
Winner
No. 16 Greg Biffle Roush Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 4.76

The 2005 Batman Begins 400 was a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series racing event held on June 19, 2005, at Michigan International Speedway in the American community of Brooklyn, Michigan.

Run over 200 laps, the race was the fifteenth in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and took place around the time of the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix that Michael Schumacher would dominate.

Entry list

Car #[4] Driver Hometown Make Sponsor Team Crew Chief
0 Mike Bliss Milwaukie, OR Chevrolet NetZero Best Buy Gene Haas
01 Joe Nemechek Lakeland, FL Chevrolet U.S. Army Nelson Bowers
2 Rusty Wallace St. Louis, MO Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske
4 Mike Wallace St. Louis, MO Chevrolet Lucas / Wide Open Energy Drink Larry McClure
5 Kyle Busch Las Vegas, NV Chevrolet Kellogg's Rick Hendrick
6 Mark Martin Batesville, AR Ford Batman Begins / Pfizer Jack Roush
07 Dave Blaney Hartford, OH Chevrolet Jack Daniel's Country Cocktail Richard Childress
7 Robby Gordon Bellflower, CA Chevrolet Menards James Smith
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr Kannapolis, NC Chevrolet Budweiser Teresa Earnhardt
9 Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
10 Scott Riggs Bahama, NC Chevrolet Valvoline James Rocco
11 Jason Leffler Long Beach, CA Chevrolet FedEx Kinko's J D Gibbs
12 Ryan Newman South Bend, IN Dodge Alltel Roger Penske
15 Michael Waltrip Owensboro, KY Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts Teresa Earnhardt
16 Greg Biffle Vancouver, WA Ford National Guard / Charter Communications Geoff Smith
17 Matt Kenseth Cambridge, WI Ford Carhartt Mark Martin
18 Bobby Labonte Corpus Christi, TX Chevrolet Interstate Batteries Joe Gibbs
19 Jeremy Mayfield Owensboro, KY Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW Ray Evernham
20 Tony Stewart Rushville, IN Chevrolet The Home Depot Joe Gibbs
21 Ricky Rudd Chesapeake, VA Ford Motorcraft / Rent-A-Center Glen Wood
22 Scott Wimmer Wausau, WI Dodge Caterpillar Bill Davis
23 Mike Skinner Ontario, CA Dodge History Channel AutoManiac Gail Davis
24 Jeff Gordon Vallejo, CA Chevrolet DuPont Rick Hendrick
25 Brian Vickers Thomasville, NC Chevrolet GMAC / ditech.com Mary Hendrick
29 Kevin Harvick Bakersfield, CA Chevrolet GM Goodwrench Richard Childress
31 Jeff Burton South Boston, VA Chevrolet Beneficial / Cingular Richard Childress
32 Bobby Hamilton Jr Nashville, TN Chevrolet Tide Calvin Wells III
34 PJ Jones Torrance, CA Chevrolet Ultra Comp Trailers William Edwards
37 Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT Dodge Patron Tequila John Carter
38 Elliott Sadler Emporia, VA Ford M&M's Robert Yates
40 Sterling Marlin Columbia, TN Dodge Coors Light Felix Sabates
41 Casey Mears Bakersfield, CA Dodge Target Chip Ganassi
42 Jamie McMurray Joplin, MO Dodge Home123 Corp. Floyd Ganassi
43 Jeff Green Owensboro, KY Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker Richard L Petty
45 Kyle Petty Trinity, NC Dodge Georgia-Pacific / Brawny Kyle Petty
48 Jimmie Johnson El Cajon, CA Chevrolet Lowe's Jeff Gordon
49 Ken Schrader Fenton, MO Dodge Schwan's Home Service Elizabeth Morgenthau
66 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA Ford Jani-King / Peak Fitness Jeff Stec
77 Travis Kvapil Janesville, WI Dodge Kodak / Jasper Engines Douglas Bawel
88 Dale Jarrett Hickory, NC Ford UPS Robert Yates
89 Morgan Shepherd Conover, NC Dodge Victory in Jesus / Red Line Oil Cindy Shepherd
91 Bill Elliott Dawsonville, GA Dodge McDonald's Ray Evernham Sr.
97 Kurt Busch Las Vegas, NV Ford Sharpie / IRWIN Industrial Tools Georgetta Roush
99 Carl Edwards Columbia, MO Ford AAA / Office Depot Jack Roush
151 Stuart Kirby Bowling Green, KY Chevrolet Marathon Multipower-3 HD Motor Oil Joe Auer
179 Derrike Cope Spanaway, WA Chevrolet SBC / Tubby's Subs John Conely
192 Eric McClure Abingdon, VA Chevrolet Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins

Practice

Top 10 practice 1 results

Pos.[5] Car # Driver Make Speed Time Behind Best Laps
1 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 192.164 0:37.468 0.000 0 0
2 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet 191.428 0:37.612 0.144 0 0
3 41 Casey Mears Dodge 191.255 0:37.646 0.178 0 0
4 16 Greg Biffle Ford 189.788 0:37.937 0.469 0 0
5 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 189.424 0:38.010 0.542 0 0
6 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 189.374 0:38.020 0.552 0 0
7 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 188.763 0:38.143 0.675 0 0
8 38 Elliott Sadler Ford 188.753 0:38.145 0.677 0 0
9 22 Scott Wimmer Dodge 188.625 0:38.171 0.703 0 0
10 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 188.191 0:38.259 0.791 0 0
Full results

Top 10 practice 2 results

Pos. Car # Driver Make Speed Time Behind Best Laps
1 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge 192.097 0:37.481 0.000 0 0
2 12 Ryan Newman Dodge 192.097 0:37.481 0.000 0 0
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 191.729 0:37.553 0.072 0 0
4 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 191.144 0:37.668 0.187 0 0
5 6 Mark Martin Ford 191.057 0:37.685 0.204 0 0
6 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge 190.966 0:37.703 0.222 0 0
7 25 Brian Vickers Chevrolet 190.911 0:37.714 0.233 0 0
8 10 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 190.809 0:37.734 0.253 0 0
9 01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 190.602 0:37.775 0.294 0 0
10 43 Jeff Green Dodge 190.144 0:37.866 0.385 0 0
Full results

Qualifying

Pos.[6] Car # Driver Make Primary Sponsor Speed Time Behind
1 12 Ryan Newman Dodge Alltel 194.232 37.069 0.000
2 41 Casey Mears Dodge Target 193.757 37.160 -0.091
3 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot 193.512 37.207 -0.138
4 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 193.123 37.282 -0.213
5 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 193.086 37.289 -0.220
6 18 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet Interstate Batteries 193.055 37.295 -0.226
7 25 Brian Vickers Chevrolet GMAC / ditech.com 192.818 37.341 -0.272
8 7 Robby Gordon Chevrolet Menards 192.771 37.350 -0.281
9 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 192.658 37.372 -0.303
10 91 Bill Elliott Dodge McDonald's 192.658 37.372 -0.303
11 1 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army 192.606 37.382 -0.313
12 2 Rusty Wallace Dodge Miller Lite 192.555 37.392 -0.323
13 97 Kurt Busch Ford Sharpie / IRWIN Industrial Tools 192.555 37.392 -0.323
14 88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS 192.493 37.404 -0.335
15 6 Mark Martin Ford Batman Begins / Pfizer 192.380 37.426 -0.357
16 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 192.313 37.439 -0.370
17 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Kellogg's 192.225 37.456 -0.387
18 38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's 192.102 37.480 -0.411
19 43 Jeff Green Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker 191.980 37.504 -0.435
20 00 Mike Bliss Chevrolet NetZero Best Buy 191.980 37.504 -0.435
21 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Carhartt 191.627 37.573 -0.504
22 22 Scott Wimmer Dodge Caterpillar 191.627 37.573 -0.504
23 99 Carl Edwards Ford AAA / Office Depot 191.413 37.615 -0.546
24 42 Jamie McMurray Dodge Home123 Corp. 191.306 37.636 -0.567
25 16 Greg Biffle Ford National Guard / Charter Communications 191.189 37.659 -0.590
26 11 Jason Leffler Chevrolet FedEx Kinko's 191.189 37.659 -0.590
27 32 Bobby Hamilton Jr Chevrolet Tide 190.739 37.748 -0.679
28 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet GM Goodwrench 190.587 37.778 -0.709
29 10 Scott Riggs Chevrolet Valvoline 190.582 37.779 -0.710
30 15 Michael Waltrip Chevrolet NAPA Auto Parts 190.491 37.797 -0.728
31 23 Mike Skinner Dodge History Channel AutoManiac 190.376 37.820 -0.751
32 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Georgia-Pacific / Brawny 190.370 37.821 -0.752
33 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Beneficial / Cingular 190.179 37.859 -0.790
34 21 Ricky Rudd Ford Motorcraft / Rent-A-Center 190.129 37.869 -0.800
35 66 Mike Garvey Ford Jani-King / Peak Fitness 189.878 37.919 -0.850
36 07 Dave Blaney Chevrolet Jack Daniel's Country Cocktail 189.783 37.938 -0.869
37 77 Travis Kvapil Dodge Kodak / Jasper Engines 189.783 37.938 -0.869
38 49 Ken Schrader Dodge Schwan's Home Service 189.579 37.979 -0.910
39 37 Kevin Lepage Dodge Patron Tequila 189.449 38.005 -0.936
40 40 Sterling Marlin Dodge Coors Light 189.404 38.014 -0.945
41 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet Budweiser 188.260 38.245 -1.176
42 4 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Lucas / Wide Open Energy Drink 186.591 38.587 -1.518
43 51 Stuart Kirby Chevrolet Marathon Multipower-3 HD Motor Oil 188.848 38.126 -1.057
Failed to qualify
44 92 Eric McClure* Chevrolet Front Row Motorsports 0.000 0.000 0.000
45 79 Derrike Cope Chevrolet SBC / Tubby's Subs
46 34 P.J. Jones Chevrolet Ultra Comp Trailers
47 89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge Victory In Jesus / Red Line Oil
WD 00 Carl Long Chevrolet Buyer's Choice Auto Warranties 0.000 0.000 0.000

*Had an accident during qualifying

Race recap

On April 27, 2005 Warner Bros. would announce that the race would be sponsored by the movie Batman Begins, marking the first time a motion picture sponsored a Cup Series race.[7] In a press release, NASCAR CEO and chairman Brian France said "Batman will cheer on the 43 super heroes that will be competing for the Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway."[8] Along with the sponsorship, the Batmobile served as the honorary pace car for the race,[2] while Batman was the grand marshal, and Karen Newman sang the national anthem.[9]

Mark Martin also ran a Batman Begins paint scheme, along with Ricky Craven at the Paramount Health Insurance 200 on the previous day.[10] Defending race winner Ryan Newman[11] of Penske Racing won the pole position after breaking the track record with a speed of 194.232 miles per hour (312.586 km/h), breaking the original record held by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2001,[9] while Roush Racing's Greg Biffle won the race.[12] Michigan International Speedway has been a Ford dominated track starting in 1984, and a Mercury track before that from 1969-78. It was also a track that suited a smooth driver or a driver that could change his driving tactics for Michigan International Speedway.

Tony Stewart would dominate the race, he would end up leading a race-high 97 laps. However, on lap 168, Stewart took a four-tire pit stop, while Greg Biffle, Elliott Sadler and Roush Racing teammates Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, as they and other drivers had pitted 12 laps earlier; Joe Nemechek and Michael Waltrip also beat Stewart to the track, forcing him to start in eighth on lap 174. Biffle, who led 67 laps, would go on to win his eighth career Cup race and fifth of the season.[13] Stewart was able to fight his way into second, while Mark Martin finished in third.[14] Kenseth and Edwards rounded out the top five. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished the race in 32nd and 17th, respectively, and were knocked out of contention for the 2005 Chase for the Nextel Cup.[9]

Race results

Fin[15] St # Driver Sponsor Make Laps Led Status Pts Winnings
1 25 16 Greg Biffle National Guard, Charter Communications Ford 200 63 running 185 171075
2 3 20 Tony Stewart Home Depot Chevy 200 97 running 180 174461
3 15 6 Mark Martin Batman Begins, Pfizer Ford 200 10 running 170 116125
4 21 17 Matt Kenseth Carhartt Ford 200 0 running 160 138261
5 23 99 Carl Edwards AAA, Office Depot Ford 200 0 running 155 98650
6 11 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevy 200 1 running 155 110148
7 30 15 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Chevy 200 3 running 151 116454
8 18 38 Elliott Sadler M&M's Ford 200 0 running 142 126106
9 17 5 Kyle Busch Kellogg's Chevy 200 0 running 138 89265
10 12 2 Rusty Wallace Miller Lite Dodge 200 0 running 134 110548
11 33 31 Jeff Burton Beneficial, Cingular Wireless Chevy 200 0 running 130 106825
12 13 97 Kurt Busch Sharpie, Irwin Industrial Tools Ford 200 12 running 132 125665
13 24 42 Jamie McMurray Home123 Corp. Dodge 200 1 running 129 87390
14 6 18 Bobby Labonte Interstate Batteries Chevy 200 0 running 121 110915
15 1 12 Ryan Newman Alltel Dodge 200 3 running 123 122781
16 22 22 Scott Wimmer Caterpillar Dodge 200 0 running 115 101798
17 41 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevy 200 0 running 112 118448
18 4 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers, UAW Dodge 200 0 running 109 106965
19 16 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevy 200 2 running 111 118881
20 26 11 Jason Leffler FedEx Kinko's Chevy 200 0 running 103 75890
21 2 41 Casey Mears Target Dodge 199 7 running 105 107248
22 5 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dealers, UAW Dodge 199 0 running 97 99535
23 29 10 Scott Riggs Valvoline Chevy 199 0 running 94 93448
24 14 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford 199 0 running 91 106698
25 28 29 Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevy 199 0 running 88 116351
26 37 77 Travis Kvapil Kodak, Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge 199 0 running 85 79965
27 20 0 Mike Bliss NetZero, Best Buy Chevy 198 0 running 82 71680
28 38 49 Ken Schrader Schwan's Home Service Dodge 198 0 running 79 71425
29 36 07 Dave Blaney Jack Daniel's Country Cocktail Chevy 198 0 running 76 79215
30 32 45 Kyle Petty Georgia-Pacific, Brawny Dodge 198 0 running 73 80687
31 27 32 Bobby Hamilton Jr. Tide Chevy 198 0 running 70 67990
32 9 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevy 197 0 running 67 116651
33 34 21 Ricky Rudd Motorcraft, Rent-A-Center Ford 197 0 running 64 96004
34 31 23 Mike Skinner History Channel AutoManiac Dodge 197 0 running 61 67735
35 10 91 Bill Elliott McDonald's Dodge 196 0 running 58 67595
36 35 66 Mike Garvey Peak Fitness Ford 196 0 running 55 67545
37 39 37 Kevin Lepage Patron Tequila Dodge 195 0 running 52 67495
38 19 43 Jeff Green Cheerios, Betty Crocker Dodge 184 0 running 49 96331
39 8 7 Robby Gordon Menards Chevy 182 1 running 51 67350
40 40 40 Sterling Marlin Coors Light Dodge 167 0 engine 43 95223
41 7 25 Brian Vickers GMAC, ditech.com Chevy 154 0 running 40 75280
42 43 51 Stuart Kirby Marathon Multipower-3 HD Motor Oil Chevy 91 0 crash 37 67240
43 42 4 Mike Wallace Lucas Oil, Wide Open Energy Drink Chevy 50 0 engine 34 66671
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes
44 92 Eric McClure Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet
45 79 Derrike Cope SBC / Tubby's Subs Chevrolet
46 34 P.J. Jones Ultra Comp Trailers Chevrolet
47 89 Morgan Shepherd Victory In Jesus / Red Line Oil Dodge
WD 00 Carl Long Buyer's Choice Auto Warranties Chevrolet

Standings

Pos Driver Points[12]
1 Jimmie Johnson 2173
2 Greg Biffle 2124
3 Elliott Sadler 1923
4 Carl Edwards 1914
5 Mark Martin 1904
6 Tony Stewart 1862
7 Ryan Newman 1856
8 Rusty Wallace 1848
9 Kurt Busch 1813
10 Kevin Harvick 1803

References

  1. ^ "Weather information for the "Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway"". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  2. ^ a b "Warner Bros Announces "Batman Begins 400 at Michigan International Speedway"". About.com. 2005-04-27. Archived from the original on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  3. ^ "TV RATINGS 2005". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  4. ^ "2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Batman Begins 400 Entry List - Michigan International Speedway". frcs.pro. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  5. ^ "2005 Batman Begins 400 Practice 1 Results - Michigan International Speedway". frcs.pro. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  6. ^ "Batman Begins 400 Qualifying Results and Starting Lineup Michigan International Speedway NASCAR 2005". NASCAR Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Archived from the original on 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  7. ^ "News from May 15, 2005". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  8. ^ ""Batman Begins" Sponsors Nascar with "Batman Begins 400"". CBR. 2005-04-27. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  9. ^ a b c "Batman Begins 400". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Archived from the original on 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  10. ^ "Warner Bros. and NASCAR Announce "Batman Begins" 400 at Michigan International Speedway". Motor Trend. 2005-04-28. Archived from the original on 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  11. ^ McCormick, Steve. "2005 Batman Returns 400 at Michigan International Speedway". About.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  12. ^ a b "2005 Batman Begins 400". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
  13. ^ Harris, Mike (2005-06-19). "Biffle captures fifth win of season in Batman Begins 400". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  14. ^ Donahue, Alan (2012-07-10). "Dale Earnhardt Jr's 'Dark Knight Rises' NASCAR Vehicle Among Top 5 Superhero Designs". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  15. ^ "2005 Batman Begins 400 - The Third Turn". www.thethirdturn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
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