The 37-year-old striker â who is out of contract this summer â scored either side of half-time before Kasey McAteer put the icing on the cake with a close-range header in the 67th minute at Deepdale, sending Leicesterâs away fans into raptures.
Leedsâ thumping 4-0 loss to QPR on Friday night had already confirmed Leicesterâs immediate promotion back to the Premier League and Enzo Marescaâs men will look to cap off their memorable campaign at home to Blackburn this weekend.
Mondayâs comprehensive defeat of Preston ensured the Foxes remain on course to equal Tottenhamâs record of 32 wins for a single season in the second division, a feat Spurs managed way back in 1919/20.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his double against the Lilywhites, Vardy â considered one of the greatest players in Leicesterâs history â paid tribute to the fans for remaining loyal in the wake of the clubâs painful relegation from the top flight.
âThe season has gone quickly but itâs a graft! Not many days off, Iâll tell you that for nothing!â the veteran forward said in his post-match interview.
âThe lads have given it their all. As youâve seen us play, thatâs like it is in training. Itâs full throttle.
âItâs thoroughly deserved and Iâm just glad weâve had 5,000 here tonight to come and celebrate with us.
âThe fans are massive. Itâs not like itâs 20 minutes up the road. Itâs a night game and to come out in those numbers, all still here now and wanting to celebrate.
âIf you let them, theyâd be here on the pitch with us! Itâs great to do it.
âWe can celebrate this tonight but now weâve got another target which is 100 points on Saturday so weâll make sure we celebrate that tonight and weâll go again on Saturday where we get to celebrate with all the home fans.â
The former England international praised his team-mates for âtaking in everythingâ and being able to implement what Maresca had worked on in training across the campaign.
âWeâre obviously over the moon because that was the target at the start of the season,â Vardy added.
âBut we knew it could have gone the other way if weâre honest as obviously weâve only been together since July so you never know whatâs going to happen.
âThe lads have taken in everything that the gafferâs wanted, how he wants us to play, and listen to the fans now. Itâs obviously worked.â
Before kick-off, Vardy made it clear he had no intention of quitting, with the attacker keen for another season in the Premier League â eight years on from the clubâs unforgettable title-winning campaign.
âListen, Iâm not ready to hang the boots up yet,â Vardy said when quizzed on his future.
âThe legs feel fine and I feel as fit as I ever have so weâll just see what happens.â
Meanwhile, Leicester head coach Maresca â who took over the reins from Dean Smith last summer â said his players deserved enormous credit after a gruelling season in the second division.
âItâs been a fantastic season, a tough season,â the Italian said.
âThe Championship is very, very tough, a long season, very intense, but in the end we did it and we are very happy.
âNow itâs time to enjoy. They work hard all season to bring this club back to the Premier League and now they deserve to enjoy.â
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