FONTANA, Calif. -- Greg Biffle hit the right combination Sunday in the first test of NASCAR's new Nextel Cup aerodynamic rules, winning the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

Biffle, who won the 2004 season finale in November, ran strong throughout the 250-lap race on California's two-mile oval, taking the lead for good on Lap 228 and building a big enough advantage to hold off a last-ditch efforts by runner-up Jimmie Johnson in the second race of the season.

"I lost all the rear grip there with three (laps) to go," Biffle said, grinning. "I just barely touched, skinned it, two or three times there at the end and I was just able to keep it under me."

Roush Racing had a great day, with reigning Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch finishing third, Carl Edwards fifth and Mark Martin seventh.  More