Team 48 Michigan Preview
Lowe’s Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 visit Michigan International Speedway this weekend. Johnson is second in the NASCAR Nextel point’s race trailing Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 58 points. Johnson led 126 laps and won his third race of the season Sunday in Pocono. Johnson has led 820 miles in the last three races.
Jimmie Johnson:
WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR MICHIGAN?
"For us we've had solid motors with the engine department we have with Hendrick Motorsports. The last race we had there was the first time we felt we were really competitive there in quite some time. We found out more of what we need handling- wise. You think California would apply to Michigan, but for some reason it doesn't exactly. We've been good at California and have missed Michigan until the last race of last year. I'm very excited to go back. We have made gains in the engine department and gains in aero and set- ups as well. Hopefully we'll have more than the rest of them and win."
DOES THIS SEEM LIKE A POTENTIAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON?
"I think so. The feelings I have are based off the old point system. It's hard to get too confident. As long as you're within the top ten or 400 points, it all starts over at race 27. I feel that based on our races this year at those tracks and what we did last year, we should be one of the teams competing for the championship. It's something on the forefront of all our minds. We've had two great seasons and have been building for a championship year.”
WHAT PART OF YOUR STREAK IS CHEMISTRY AND WHICH CONSISTENCY?
"I think our chemistry as a team and organization breeds the consistency side. When I come in and explain what I'm feeling, he (Chad) comes in and works on it. I think our chemistry as a whole is the foundation in our teams' success."
TUESDAY’S GRAND OPENING OF THE KYLE PETTY INSPIRED VICTORY JUNCTION CAMP:
“It takes a certain kind of man to drive a race car and run a company, but it takes an entirely different kind of man to do what Kyle Petty has done with the camp. You know, we smile when we do well on the racetrack, but I don’t think we are half as excited as a kid is the first time he gets to go to camp. I applaud what Kyle and Pattie have done. I think that’s the best story of the season.”
Crew Chief Chad Knaus:
DOES NASCAR NEED TO DO ANYTYHING TO WIN BACK THE FANS AFTER RECENT SCORING PROBLEMS?
"If you look at any competitive racing series, when people run side by side, lap after lap, and change positions, there's always a scoring problem. It's stuff they've got to work through and they will work through. To win back the fans, I think that is kind of ridiculous. The fans see one hell of a show every race track they go to. There's side by side racing, there's drama, there's pit strategy, there's bumping, there's banging. This is by far the best racing series on the planet. If you want to go to a series that is easy to score you can go to a road course where everyone runs single file and nothing really happens. If you want action and see tempers flare, they're going to come back and watch."
WHY THE SUCCESS OF LATE?
"It's not what Jimmie and I do. It's what everybody at Hendrick Motorsports does. It's what everybody on the 24 and 48 team does. It's what Mr. Hendrick and Lowe's does for us. They allow us to go to them and say this is what we need. They give it all. That's something that a lot of teams don't get. If we don't put the pieces together it's our fault."
RACE NOTES
CHASSIS INFORMATION
Team Lowe’s Racing will bring car No 4859 to Michigan this weekend. This car raced led 500 of the 600 miles and won the race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway three weeks ago.
On Sunday, Johnson and several other drivers will showcase special paint schemes that honor their fathers. In addition, Gary Johnson’s name will be featured above his son’s passenger-side door. Each driver who participates in the Father’s Day program also is eligible for a $25,000 bonus from Action Performance. The prize will be rewarded the highest finishing driver, who will then present it to his father or Dad’s favorite charitable organization.
STATS & FACTS
Leading The Way in 2004
Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to lead at least one lap in 11 of the 14 races in 2004.
Most Wins
Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have each won three races in 2004 – the most of any drivers.
Moving Up The Chart
Johnson’s nine career victories after just two full years are good enough to tie him for 48th best in the history of the sport. His Pocono Raceway victory tied him with Kurt Busch, Paul Goldsmith, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Cotton Owens and Bob Welborn.
Hot Streak
Jimmie Johnson has finished fourth or better in six of his last seven races.
Leading Michigan
Johnson has led in two of the four Michigan International Speedway races he has entered.
Miles Leading
Johnson has led 820 miles in the last three races.
MOST RECENT 2004 RACE – POCONO RACEWAY
Jimmie Johnson started fifth and grabbed the lead on lap 11 the proceeded to dominate throughout most of the afternoon. Johnson overcame a NASCAR scoring error that saw him fall to ninth with 38 laps remaining in the race. Johnson resumed the lead with 27 laps to go and held on for his third victory of the season.
MOST RECENT RACE AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY:
Jimmie Johnson led three times for 50 laps but ran low on fuel in the final laps and was forced to pit with just two laps left in the race. The pit stop relegated Johnson to a 27th place finish.
