Biffle's own call costs him a win

Maybe Greg Biffle will listen to crew chief Greg Erwin next time.

As NASCAR's Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway wound down Sunday, Biffle overruled Erwin on a crucial tire call. Biffle's miscalculation -- he wanted to make it a four-tire stop; Erwin wanted two -- likely cost him the Sprint Cup Series race.

"I know what I did was wrong," said Biffle, who led a race-high 113 laps but finished third behind winner Tony Stewart and runner-up Jeff Gordon. "I made a mistake."

Twenty-nine laps remained as Biffle led the race leaders into the pits on Lap 238 under caution after Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s engine leaked.

As Biffle slid into the pit stall, he held out four fingers to Erwin, who had already told him on the radio he wanted to make a two-tire switch.

"The crew chief wanted two, I decided I wanted four," Biffle said. "It was probably the wrong thing to do."

Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson took two tires and beat Biffle off pit road, with Stewart in the lead.

ALSO SUNDAY

Vettel wins Japanese GP: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel led from start to finish to win Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan, reviving his championship hopes.

Vettel finished ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was fourth. Drivers' championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP was eighth.

In the drivers' standings, Button's lead over Barrichello was cut by one point to 14. Vettel is two more points back.

Massa to test Ferrari: Ferrari driver Felipe Massa received permission from Formula One's governing body to test one of the team's cars.

It's another step in the comeback for the Brazilian, who is recovering from a life-threatening accident during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

NHRA postpones finals: Rain on Sunday forced NHRA officials to postpone until today the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals eliminations at Millington, Tenn. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) topped qualifying at Memphis Motorsports Park.

The Associated Press

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