NASCAR explains timing of final caution

Impending darkness had no role in NASCAR's decision to throw the caution that ended the Brickyard 400 in the second overtime.

But, said NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O'Donnell, the race would have been over regardless because darkness was quickly descending on the track.

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"We would not have been able to restart that race," O'Donnell said in the garage area after the checkered flag. "There was oil down; it would have been another red flag. I think the last couple red flags were 15-20 minutes with oil. So, we were up against it as well."

However, what some saw as controversial was the the caution for a crash involving Denny Hamlin, Paul Menard and others not being called until leader Kasey Kahne crossed the overtime line.

Kahne was declared the winner under caution and the race was over. The sun was scheduled to set at Indianapolis at 9:05 p.m. ET and the crash occurred just minutes beforehand.

"What we have always said and we've been consistent as much as I've talked about it, we're going make every attempt to finish the race under green and to do that you got to see what happens with an incident." O'Donnell said.

"In this case we did that, and once we decided to throw the caution when we wanted to dispatch emergency equipment, also knew there was oil on the racetrack we threw the caution and ultimately that was the end of the race."