Race 2 Win: NEXTEL Cup Series Race Notes

Nextel Cup Series

3M Performance 400 - Jimmie Johnson Notes

Jimmie Johnson
Michigan Preview

Lowe’s Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series travel to Michigan International Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s 400-mile race. Johnson finished fifth and second in the last two races at Pocono and Watkins Glen. This weekend, Crew Chief Chad Knaus rejoins the team after a six-race absence.

With four races until the start of the “Chase for the Championship” Johnson is seventh in points. But, under the new scoring system that equalizes the points for all 12 “Chase” drivers then adds ten points for each victory, Johnson would start the “Chase” tied for first with teammate Jeff Gordon – both drivers own four victories.

DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:

MICHIGAN: “I love Michigan. There are so many lanes to choose from and from a driver’s perspective that’s what makes a track fun. If you aren’t happy with how you are getting through a turn you go find another place on the track. That’s what leads to side-by-side racing and that’s what the fans like to see as well.”

CHAD KNAUS RETURN: “I have been proud of the team and what we have done without Chad. I think we have kept our pace up. But, we really look forward to having him back this week getting everything in line and getting ready for the Chase. I have to give our guys a lot of credit by staying focused throughout these six races.”

CHASE: “We have been performing well, but until the last two weeks we have had some crazy bad luck and really didn’t have the finishes we wanted during the summer months. We are certainly not happy in seventh, but with the way the Chase works this year – the seeding process and all that – we just have to focus on transferring and then we will be towards the top if not tied for the top.”

NOTES

Chassis

Johnson will drive chassis 359 at Michigan. This car won at Indy last year and Atlanta in March. Chassis 297 will serve as the backup. This car won both Pocono races in 2004 and Las Vegas in 2005. (See chassis history below)

Michigan International Speedway

In 11 starts, Johnson has completed 2,007 of 2,129 laps. He owns an average starting spot of 11.20 and average finish of 15.9.

2007 Season

Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon are the only drivers with four victories.

Chevrolet has won 17 of the season’s 22 races.

Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 of the season’s 22 races.

Hendrick Motorsports has won 5 of the 9 “Car of Tomorrow “races.

Johnson has led in 12 of 22 races for 763 laps in 2007.

Career

Johnson has won at least three races a season since he posted his first victory in 2002. He is the only driver in the modern era to win at least three races in each of his first six full-time seasons.

Johnson’s victory at Richmond on May 6 was the 27th of his Nextel Cup career. This win gives him sole possession of 22nd place on the list for most victories since 1949.

Johnson’s owns nine poles in his career. He has won a pole in each of his first five seasons – the longest streak among active drivers.

History

In 205 starts, Johnson has posted 77 top-5 finishes and 123 top-10 finishes. He has a top-10 finish at every track on the NASCAR Nextel Cup series circuit. Kansas is the only track where he has not posted a top-five finish. Johnson has led 4,958 laps and driven 58,336 laps in his Nextel Cup career covering over 78,485 miles. He has finished on the lead lap 155 times. He owns a career average start of 12.3 and an average finish of 12.4.