Daytona 500 - Jimmie Johnson Notes

Team 48 Daytona 500 Preview

Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 enjoyed their first trip to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night winning the 2005 Budweiser Shootout. Johnson backed Saturday’s victory with a strong qualifying performance on Sunday when he posted the second quickest qualifying speed. Johnson will start on the pole for the second of Thursday’s two qualifying races. Also, Johnson will start Sunday’s Daytona 500 on the outside pole.

JIMMIE JOHNSON ON DAYTONA’S SPEEDWEEKS SO FAR: “To win my first plate race—it wasn’t a points race, but there was a lot of money out there and a trophy that we all wanted. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to do. The only scary thing with this is that there’s only one place to go from here and that’s down. So hopefully we finish up the Duels strong and carry it into the 500.”

CAREER: “It’s a night and day difference. Experience is everything in our sport, especially on the plate tracks. And my first year, from coming here for the 500 versus the Pepsi 400, it was a huge difference. And now to be here on the start of my fourth season, I’m so much more comfortable. I feel like I was racing ARCA back in 2002 when I won the pole.”

HAS HENDRICK CLOSED THE GAP ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS? "I think our team really stepped up and we were able to close that gap. Jeff won 50% of the plate races and we finished in the top 5 a few times, so I really felt that we closed the gap. Jeff was able to get it done and it’s up to me to learn a few more tricks. The DEI cars are a little off as a whole; they are all mid pack but there is so much that falls into the drivers’ hands during the race that I would expect to see the #8 and #15 back up during the race. They might not have the straight line speed that they want but those guys are too smart in the draft to at least be able to get a top five in the race.”

CREW CHIEF CHAD KNAUS ON THURSDAY’S RACES: “You never know what to expect in these qualifying race. I don't think Thursday is going to be quite as aggressive as what you saw in the Shootout because everybody knows that the car they're racing in the 150 is the car they're going to race in the 500. There's not a lot of time to get the car fixed or repaired, but it'll be rough and tumble, but I don't think it'll be near as bad as it was Saturday though.”

CHASSIS INFORMATION - Team Lowe’s Racing raced car No. 48-267 in the Budweiser Shootout and will race car No. 48-253 Thursday.

STATS & FACTS

Daytona