Trevor Bayne starts multi-car crash, collects big names at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Sixteen cars were involved in a wreck on Lap 47 of the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, forcing a red flag period that halted the race.

The incident began when Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne lost control of the No. 6 Ford through a turn as Paul Menard raced just behind him to his right and Kurt Busch did the same in the lower lane to his left. Neither Busch nor Menard touched Bayne, but Busch's No. 41 Chevrolet appeared to impede the aerodynamic handling of Bayne's race car, sending it around.

No drivers were injured. The red flag lasted for 11 minutes, 15 seconds. Then NASCAR displayed the caution and teams were allowed to begin working on their cars.

"It felt like (Menard) was really tight on our door and sucked us around," Bayne said. "Our car was a little loose, but we had a fast race car today. ... The air is so sensitive here. Anything, when you get too close to somebody it can just pull you right around and it's as much as hitting somebody physically when you get down on their door that tight and it's just gonna happen."

Also involved were Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano, 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, David Ragan, Danica Patrick and Kasey Kahne.

Bayne and Larson were the only drivers who were not able to return to the track because their cars were too damaged.

"I didn't see a whole lot," said Larson. "... I thought I was going to clear it all, and then the 40 (Landon Cassill) started coming back up the track. We haven't had very good runs this year. These bad finishes aren't helping us out."

Said Cassill: "I got myself in the top 10. It's just a bummer. I want to win this race so bad."

Ragan is driving for the final time for Joe Gibbs Racing as a substitute in Kyle Busch's No. 18 Toyota. Busch has been out of racing since breaking his right leg and left foot after crashing during an Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 21.

Ragan, who returned to Sunday's race 65 laps down, will move to the No. 55 Toyota of Michael Waltrip Racing beginning next weekend at Kansas Speedway. Waltrip drove the No. 55 at Talladega but was involved in an early incident with Brian Scott that forced him to the garage for extensive repairs.

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PHOTOS: 2015 GEICO 500 at Talladega