Montoya leads NASCAR Brickyard 400 after crash-marred start

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Juan Pablo Montoya survived a tire problem to lead the NASCAR Brickyard 400 after 50 laps Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which was marred by a multi-car crash on the first lap that included Kyle Busch and Sam Hornish Jr.

Several other Sprint Cup Series drivers also had early problems in the 160-lap race, perhaps after their cars ran over debris left from the first-lap crash. Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among those making early, unexpected pit stops that pushed them deep into the 43-car field.

Montoya, the race pole-sitter, led most of the early laps in his No. 42 Chevrolet but developed a tire problem and was forced to pit on lap 38 to have all four tires changed.

But when the other leaders made normal, green-flag pit stops after that, Montoya stayed on the track and resumed the lead on a warm, partly cloudy day at the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Greg Biffle was running second and Mark Martin was third. Jimmie Johnson, a three-time Brickyard 400 winner who started on the outside of the front row, was eighth.

--Jim Peltz in Indianapolis