Edwards wins Auto Club 500 over Johnson

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Carl Edwards blew by Jimmie Johnson with 13 laps remaining and won the rain-delayed Auto Club 500 for his eighth career NASCAR victory on Monday.

Edwards, driving a Ford for Roush Racing, was headed to an easy triumph but won the race under caution when Dale Jarrett slammed into the wall on the final lap of the race in Fontana, Calif., 50 miles east of Los Angeles.

Jeff Gordon finished third in his Chevy behind Hendrick Motorsports team mate Johnson. Kyle Busch was fourth and Matt Kenseth fifth in the second race of the NASCAR Sprint season.

Edwards finished 19th in last week's Daytona 500, the most important race on the NASCAR schedule. Monday's triumph marked his first victory at the California Speedway.

"It looked like Jimmie was the guy to beat at the end," Edwards told Fox television after Johnson jumped into the lead following a fast pit stop during a late caution.

"That was a lot of fun racing with him. It feels good to be on victory lane."

Johnson, last year's series winner, said: "I was just too loose off the corner to do anything with Carl. I wish I could have won here in my home state."

The 250-lap race was postponed Sunday after 87 laps due to rain, forcing NASCAR officials to resume the race on Monday.