De Villiers wins Dakar Rally; NASCAR’s Robby Gordon third

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Giniel de Villiers of South Africa won the first Dakar Rally held in South America. Volkswagen teammate Mark Miller of the United States was 9 minutes behind in second. Third was NASCAR regular Robby Gordon of the U.S.

Gordon, who had climbed in the standings, had problems in the final two stages and couldn't close on the top two. In Saturday's final stage he had to overcome a tire puncture. He finished 1 hour, 47 minutes behind de Villiers.

The 31st Dakar was held in South America after the 2008 race was canceled because of fears of terrorist attacks in the event's traditional African venue.

The 14-stage event covered more than 5,600 miles, including many miles across land with no roads or on unpaved rural roads. The race stared in Buenos Aires on Jan 3 and ended there Saturday.

Before this year, de Villiers had four top-10 finishes in the Dakar, including runner-up in 2006. He was leading in 2007 when his engine broke midway through the race. Miller was fourth in 2007. Volkswagen hasn't won the Dakar since the second rally in 1980.

De Villiers went into Saturday's 14th stage with only a two-minute lead over Miller , and secured the victory by finishing first from Cordoba across the pampas into Buenos Aires. Miller finished sixth in the stage.

"This is an incredible feeling," de Villiers said. "Even though I've ended up winning the Dakar that was not staged in Africa, which is home to me, it was definitely a genuine Dakar Rally, and the toughest edition I've ever contested."

Marc Coma of Spain cruised to his second motorbike title in three years. Coma led by more than 20 minutes after the opening stage two weeks ago, and extended it to nearly 90 over previous titleholder Cyril Despres of France.

De Villiers' victory in a Volkswagen was the first Dakar title for a diesel-powered car, and ended Mitsubishi's victorious string that started in 2001.