Jimmie Johnson Homestead-Miami Race Preview
Official Team Report
Jimmie Johnson Homestead-Miami Speedway Preview
This weekend Lowe's Monte Carlo driver Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 travel to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race. This race marks the tenth and final race of the 2006 "Chase for the Championship" races. Johnson leads the point's race by 63 points over Matt Kenseth.
If Kenseth leads the most laps and wins the race, Johnson clinches his first NASCAR championship if he finishes 12th or better. In five races he has climbed from eighth to first and gained 219 points on the leader by posting five consecutive top-two finishes. No driver since Jeff Gordon in 1996 has posted six consecutive top-two finishes.
DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT HOMESTEAD?
"We'll find out. I have no idea. I seriously don't have any clue what to expect. I don't have any strategy other than go down and finish ahead of (everyone.) It's just simple. That's all we've done so far through these last few months and just go down there and do the same thing we've been doing."
PLANS THIS WEEK:
"My mind hasn't had a chance to play games on me yet. I'll go to the golf course (Monday) and have some fun and relax and stay busy Tuesday and Wednesday and just try to let the week hurry by."
COMEBACK STRATEGY:
"I never conceded and I just said, let's go all out, we have nothing to lose, let's just try to finish up by winning races, just like the 20 has been doing, it's about winning races and that's been our philosophy last couple of months."
COMING SO CLOSE ON PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
"You know, at the time it was really hard to swallow, and I'm not sure if time helps things go by. At the same time, my personality, I think I tried to learn from what went on. I look at that year, and I don't feel like we left anything on the table. Last year, at one point in the race, we were the champion. I don't have any negative feelings from any of the years that we've been close but didn't deliver. I think (Tony Stewart) was just rock steady last year and out performed us and we had some bad luck at Homestead. I still think he had a good enough night where he would have been the champion. We're just learning from those experiences, becoming a stronger, better race team and I couldn't be more proud of the race team and everything they are doing."
Race Notes
Championship Scenarios
* Johnson wins the championship if he:
- Finishes 12th or better
- Leads a lap and finishes 13th or better
- Leads the most laps and finishes 15th or better
* If two drivers end with the same point total the first tiebreaker is victories, the second is second-place finishes. Only Matt Kenseth can equal Johnson's victories, but Johnson would win the second tie-breaker against any other driver with his six second-place finishes so far.
Homestead-Miami Speedway
* Johnson has completed 1,196 of 1,339 laps in his five starts at Homestead. He has an average starting position of 25.4 and an average finish of 15.6.
Chase
* Johnson is one of three drivers to participate in all three "Chase" battles. He finished second in the 2004 "Chase" and fifth last year. This will be Johnson's fifth consecutive season finishing in the top ten in points.
* Johnson owns seven "Chase" victories, the most of any driver, and led 911 laps but suffered five finishes outside the top 30 in his 29 career "Chase" races.
* Johnson is one of four drivers to lead the "Chase" in 2006.
* Johnson has led 484 laps in the "Chase" in 2006.
* He is the only "Chase" driver with five top-five finishes in 2006.
* Johnson has led in seven of the nine "Chase" races the most of any driver.
* Johnson has earned 45 lap-leader bonus points the most of any driver in the "Chase."
Year
* Johnson was the point leader after all but four races in the 26-race regular season.
* Johnson's five victories is tied with Tony Stewart and second only to Kasey Kahne's six victories. Johnson owns 23 top ten finishes this season the most of any driver.
* Johnson's six second-place finishes in 2006 moves him into a tie for sixth all time for the number of second-place finishes in a season.
Career
* Johnson has been among the top 10 in points for 104 consecutive races, since March 2004 which is the longest current streak. Johnson is fifth on the consecutive races in the modern era's point's top 10 list. Dale Earnhardt's 174 races tops the list.
* 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 five full-time seasons.
* Johnson's victory at Martinsville was the 23rd of his Nextel Cup career. The win tied him with Ricky Rudd for 25th on the list for most victories since 1949. Only five active drivers have more victories.
* Johnson's pole at Martinsville in April was the ninth of his career. He has won a pole in each of the last five seasons.
* In 182 starts, Johnson has posted 66 top-5 finishes and 109 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 4,193 laps and driven 52,282 laps in his Nextel Cup career covering over 69,926 miles. He has finished on the lead lap 140 times. He has a career average start of 12.2 and an average finish of 12.2.
2005 Homestead Race
* Johnson entered the race trailing Tony Stewart by 52 points but a cut right rear tire on lap 127 sent Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Monte Carlo spinning into the wall dropping him from second to fifth-place in the "Chase for the Championship."
HOMESTEAD PRIMARY CAR HISTORY
Chassis Date Event Qual Finish
48-339 01/31/05 Las Vegas Test - -
48-339 03/12/06 Las Vegas Race 3 1
48-339 06/12/06 Pocono 500 Race 10 10
48-339 09/03/06 California Race 16 11
48-339 10/16/06 Homestead Test - -
HOMESTEAD BACKUP CAR HISTORY
Chassis Date Event Qual Finish
48-359 03/19/06 Atlanta 14 6
48-359 03/29/06 Charlotte Test - -
48-359 07/23/06 Pocono Race 15 6
48-359 08/07/06 Indy Race 5 1
48-359 10/05/06 Texas Race 5 2
Johnson's Homestead Record
Year Start Finish Laps Status Led
2001 30 25 267/267 Running 0
2002 16 8 267/267 Running 27
2003 10 3 267/267 Running 7
2004 39 2 271/271 Running 0
2005 32 40 124/267 Crash 0
Johnson 2006 Statistics
EVENT START FINISH CHASSIS
Daytona 500 9 1 48350
California 3 2 48297
Las Vegas 3 1 48339
Atlanta 14 6 48359
Bristol 5 30 48329
Martinsville 1 3 48278
Texas 16 11 48363
Phoenix 10 7 48354
Talladega 16 1 48383
Richmond 5 12 48354
Darlington 25 4 48329
All-Star 2 1 48363
Charlotte 3 2 48363
Dover 42 6 48354
Pocono 10 10 48339
Michigan 4 6 48233
Sonoma 16 10 48386
Daytona II 9 32 48383
Chicagoland 5 6 48385
New Hampshire 6 10 48278
Pocono II 15 6 48359
Indianapolis 5 1 48359
Watkins Glen 5 17 48233
Michigan 8 13 48385
Bristol II 18 10 48329
California II 16 11 48339
Richmond II 19 23 48354
New Hampahire 7 39 48278
Dover 18 13 48329
Kansas 3 16 48363
Talladega 3 24 48383
Charlotte 10 2 48363
Martinsville 9 1 48278
Atlanta 3 2 48463
Texas 5 2 48359
Phoenix 29 2 48278
No. 48 Crew List
Name Shop Job Track Job
Knaus, Chad Crew Chief
Anderson, Chris Asst. Parts Manager Jackman
Anderson, Pamela Scorer
Barban, Earl Mechanic Spotter
Bosserman, Todd Shock Specialist
Briggs, Kenny Mechanic Mechanic
Clark, Matt Pit Crew Coach
Emerick, Danny Engine Tuner
Gray, Jason Truck Driver
Grubb, Darian Team Engineer Lead Engineer
Gutierrez, Rich Mechanic Gas Man
Hallett, Toby Truck Driver
Ives, Greg Race Engineer
Kerlin, Sean Mechanic
Knauer, Mike Mechanic Catch Can
Ladyga, Tim Mechanic Rear Tire Changer
Malec, Ron Mechanic Car Chief Rear Tire Carrier
Puchalski, Marc Mechanic
Russell, Corey Tire Specialist
Simmons, Art Chassis Set Up Tire Carrier
Trower, Mike Front Tire Changer
Official Team Report
Jimmie Johnson Homestead-Miami Speedway Preview
This weekend Lowe's Monte Carlo driver Jimmie Johnson and Team 48 travel to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race. This race marks the tenth and final race of the 2006 "Chase for the Championship" races. Johnson leads the point's race by 63 points over Matt Kenseth.
If Kenseth leads the most laps and wins the race, Johnson clinches his first NASCAR championship if he finishes 12th or better. In five races he has climbed from eighth to first and gained 219 points on the leader by posting five consecutive top-two finishes. No driver since Jeff Gordon in 1996 has posted six consecutive top-two finishes.
DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT HOMESTEAD?
"We'll find out. I have no idea. I seriously don't have any clue what to expect. I don't have any strategy other than go down and finish ahead of (everyone.) It's just simple. That's all we've done so far through these last few months and just go down there and do the same thing we've been doing."
PLANS THIS WEEK:
"My mind hasn't had a chance to play games on me yet. I'll go to the golf course (Monday) and have some fun and relax and stay busy Tuesday and Wednesday and just try to let the week hurry by."
COMEBACK STRATEGY:
"I never conceded and I just said, let's go all out, we have nothing to lose, let's just try to finish up by winning races, just like the 20 has been doing, it's about winning races and that's been our philosophy last couple of months."
COMING SO CLOSE ON PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
"You know, at the time it was really hard to swallow, and I'm not sure if time helps things go by. At the same time, my personality, I think I tried to learn from what went on. I look at that year, and I don't feel like we left anything on the table. Last year, at one point in the race, we were the champion. I don't have any negative feelings from any of the years that we've been close but didn't deliver. I think (Tony Stewart) was just rock steady last year and out performed us and we had some bad luck at Homestead. I still think he had a good enough night where he would have been the champion. We're just learning from those experiences, becoming a stronger, better race team and I couldn't be more proud of the race team and everything they are doing."
Race Notes
Championship Scenarios
* Johnson wins the championship if he:
- Finishes 12th or better
- Leads a lap and finishes 13th or better
- Leads the most laps and finishes 15th or better
* If two drivers end with the same point total the first tiebreaker is victories, the second is second-place finishes. Only Matt Kenseth can equal Johnson's victories, but Johnson would win the second tie-breaker against any other driver with his six second-place finishes so far.
Homestead-Miami Speedway
* Johnson has completed 1,196 of 1,339 laps in his five starts at Homestead. He has an average starting position of 25.4 and an average finish of 15.6.
Chase
* Johnson is one of three drivers to participate in all three "Chase" battles. He finished second in the 2004 "Chase" and fifth last year. This will be Johnson's fifth consecutive season finishing in the top ten in points.
* Johnson owns seven "Chase" victories, the most of any driver, and led 911 laps but suffered five finishes outside the top 30 in his 29 career "Chase" races.
* Johnson is one of four drivers to lead the "Chase" in 2006.
* Johnson has led 484 laps in the "Chase" in 2006.
* He is the only "Chase" driver with five top-five finishes in 2006.
* Johnson has led in seven of the nine "Chase" races the most of any driver.
* Johnson has earned 45 lap-leader bonus points the most of any driver in the "Chase."
Year
* Johnson was the point leader after all but four races in the 26-race regular season.
* Johnson's five victories is tied with Tony Stewart and second only to Kasey Kahne's six victories. Johnson owns 23 top ten finishes this season the most of any driver.
* Johnson's six second-place finishes in 2006 moves him into a tie for sixth all time for the number of second-place finishes in a season.
Career
* Johnson has been among the top 10 in points for 104 consecutive races, since March 2004 which is the longest current streak. Johnson is fifth on the consecutive races in the modern era's point's top 10 list. Dale Earnhardt's 174 races tops the list.
* 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 five full-time seasons.
* Johnson's victory at Martinsville was the 23rd of his Nextel Cup career. The win tied him with Ricky Rudd for 25th on the list for most victories since 1949. Only five active drivers have more victories.
* Johnson's pole at Martinsville in April was the ninth of his career. He has won a pole in each of the last five seasons.
* In 182 starts, Johnson has posted 66 top-5 finishes and 109 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 4,193 laps and driven 52,282 laps in his Nextel Cup career covering over 69,926 miles. He has finished on the lead lap 140 times. He has a career average start of 12.2 and an average finish of 12.2.
2005 Homestead Race
* Johnson entered the race trailing Tony Stewart by 52 points but a cut right rear tire on lap 127 sent Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Monte Carlo spinning into the wall dropping him from second to fifth-place in the "Chase for the Championship."
HOMESTEAD PRIMARY CAR HISTORY
Chassis Date Event Qual Finish
48-339 01/31/05 Las Vegas Test - -
48-339 03/12/06 Las Vegas Race 3 1
48-339 06/12/06 Pocono 500 Race 10 10
48-339 09/03/06 California Race 16 11
48-339 10/16/06 Homestead Test - -
HOMESTEAD BACKUP CAR HISTORY
Chassis Date Event Qual Finish
48-359 03/19/06 Atlanta 14 6
48-359 03/29/06 Charlotte Test - -
48-359 07/23/06 Pocono Race 15 6
48-359 08/07/06 Indy Race 5 1
48-359 10/05/06 Texas Race 5 2
Johnson's Homestead Record
Year Start Finish Laps Status Led
2001 30 25 267/267 Running 0
2002 16 8 267/267 Running 27
2003 10 3 267/267 Running 7
2004 39 2 271/271 Running 0
2005 32 40 124/267 Crash 0
Johnson 2006 Statistics
EVENT START FINISH CHASSIS
Daytona 500 9 1 48350
California 3 2 48297
Las Vegas 3 1 48339
Atlanta 14 6 48359
Bristol 5 30 48329
Martinsville 1 3 48278
Texas 16 11 48363
Phoenix 10 7 48354
Talladega 16 1 48383
Richmond 5 12 48354
Darlington 25 4 48329
All-Star 2 1 48363
Charlotte 3 2 48363
Dover 42 6 48354
Pocono 10 10 48339
Michigan 4 6 48233
Sonoma 16 10 48386
Daytona II 9 32 48383
Chicagoland 5 6 48385
New Hampshire 6 10 48278
Pocono II 15 6 48359
Indianapolis 5 1 48359
Watkins Glen 5 17 48233
Michigan 8 13 48385
Bristol II 18 10 48329
California II 16 11 48339
Richmond II 19 23 48354
New Hampahire 7 39 48278
Dover 18 13 48329
Kansas 3 16 48363
Talladega 3 24 48383
Charlotte 10 2 48363
Martinsville 9 1 48278
Atlanta 3 2 48463
Texas 5 2 48359
Phoenix 29 2 48278
No. 48 Crew List
Name Shop Job Track Job
Knaus, Chad Crew Chief
Anderson, Chris Asst. Parts Manager Jackman
Anderson, Pamela Scorer
Barban, Earl Mechanic Spotter
Bosserman, Todd Shock Specialist
Briggs, Kenny Mechanic Mechanic
Clark, Matt Pit Crew Coach
Emerick, Danny Engine Tuner
Gray, Jason Truck Driver
Grubb, Darian Team Engineer Lead Engineer
Gutierrez, Rich Mechanic Gas Man
Hallett, Toby Truck Driver
Ives, Greg Race Engineer
Kerlin, Sean Mechanic
Knauer, Mike Mechanic Catch Can
Ladyga, Tim Mechanic Rear Tire Changer
Malec, Ron Mechanic Car Chief Rear Tire Carrier
Puchalski, Marc Mechanic
Russell, Corey Tire Specialist
Simmons, Art Chassis Set Up Tire Carrier
Trower, Mike Front Tire Changer
Copyright © 2006 MotorsportToday.com
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