Jeff Gordon will start from the back after practice crash

LAS VEGAS — Pole winner Jeff Gordon was forced to a backup car for Sunday's Kobalt 400 Sprint Cup race after his primary car was damaged in a crash with Danica Patrick during Saturday's final practice.

Patrick spun in Turn 2 in the final minutes of Happy Hour practice, and her car was hit by Gordon. Gordon's Chevrolet was smashed on the right front.

Gordon won the pole — his second of the season — Friday with a speed of 194.679 miles per hour, and he was 14th in Saturday's final practice before the incident with Patrick.

Gordon will start the race from the rear of the field. He raced the backup car last year in Chase races at Chicagoland Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. He finished second at Chicagoland and Charlotte and was contending for the win at Texas before contact with Brad Keselowski late in the race.

David Ragan, substituting for injured Kyle Busch in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota, whacked the wall during the same practice session and will also go to a backup Sunday.