Checker Auto Parts 500 - Jimmie Johnson Notes

Team 48 Phoenix International Raceway Preview

Lowe’s Monte Carlo driver Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 return to Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday for the ninth race of the 10-race NASCAR Nextel Cup “Chase for the Championship.” Johnson trails point’s leader Tony Stewart by 38 points. Two of Johnson’s four victories in 2005 have come during the “Chase.” Last year four of his eight victories came during the “Chase.”

PHOENIX: “It's a flat track. We haven't had the best of luck at flat tracks lately. So, we were out there helping the No. 25 guys out. I've got some more laps on the track, so hopefully we can take some of that information and apply it to our cars and go from there. It's going to be a very important race. With that mile track being in the final two, it puts a lot of pressure on that, with tempers flaring up. It's a short track-you'll see some bump and runs. You'll see a lot of different things taking place.”

JEFF GORDON SAID THAT HE'S ALMOST GLAD YOU'RE BEHIND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT FORCES YOU TO ATTACK MORE. WOULD YOU AGREE? “I agree with that. But, I would take the (points lead) to be honest with you. To be in control isn't a bad thing, especially with a few races left. Where we are, especially from last year, we experienced a lot leading the points all year long. And when we started to lose our advantage and not have the speed, we panicked and started to do some things wrong. And then we recovered and got it back and just ran out of time, basically. So, I like where we are. I think we're in good shape. There are a lot of good tracks coming up for everybody. Everybody is going to have to fight for the end.”

WITH JUST TWO RACES REMAINING, CAN YOU STILL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP? “Oh, definitely. The nice thing is that it's still in our control. We can win the championship on racing and not have to count on bad luck on anybody's behalf. It looks like we've also stretched out a little cushion over a couple of guys and don't have to worry about losing anything there. Tony (Stewart) is going to run strong and it's going to be five points here or there. That's just kind of the way it is. We've got some good tracks coming up. We did close up a couple of points (at Texas.)”

RACE NOTES

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