Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnsonis an American professional stock car racing driver and a six-time champion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the No. 48 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDriver
Date of Birth17 September 1975
CountryUnited States of America
blast complaints drove earlier fading five found four gas ground hit inside kept laps line outside passed short surprised three time track trying wheels worked
I was fading so I don't really have any complaints with the way that he raced me. I passed him two or three times earlier in the day and found another line and worked my way around the outside of him. I was a little surprised that he continually drove it in and kept trying to blast me in the center. I think he probably hit me for four or five laps and the time that he got by me, he really had my wheels off the ground and I couldn't get in the gas and he got inside of me and from there drove on and drove away from me. This is short track racing.
chad four good knew shape worked
I knew we were in good shape once we got going on a long run, ... Chad said four was going to be better, and it worked out.
car found guys happy pick pleased worked
I'm very pleased with it. The guys went back and worked on the car and found some things to pick up some speed. So I am very happy with that.
along daytona hopeful issue race respect underlying understand winning worked
I'm hopeful the underlying issue of us legitimately winning the race is there. We worked our butts off for it. ... We understand we made a mistake. We just want the respect that comes along with winning the Daytona 500.
finally means present worked
He's worked his butt off, to finally be present for one of them means a lot to him.
cars chief comments crew defensive hard team thrown view worked
I kind of view it as jealousy, and he doesn't have a crew chief in there working hard enough to make his cars as good. This team has worked too hard to even have those kind of comments thrown at them, and I'm going to be very defensive over it.
accept areas came car chief crew drive gray hard looked mind team work worked
The drivers, we just get in and drive the cars. I do know that the team and crew chief are going to work as hard as they can to work the gray areas, and with that in mind gray areas were looked at and worked over and when the car came back the template didn't fit. So, Chad, the team, myself will accept what happened.
benefit chiefs compare crew engineers together
Our (Hendrick) engineers and crew chiefs all get together and compare notes. That's when you really see the benefit of a four-car team.
defended knew outside past soon tires
I thought if I could get to the outside of Matt, I had a shot. But as soon as I got outside him going into the first turn, the tires started chattering and I knew I could have a problem. Once I knew I couldn't get past him to the outside, I defended second.
bit chance finish force front gas maybe outside quarter soon stayed tires tried turn turned
I thought if I could get to his outside, I would have a chance to force maybe a three- or four-wide finish at the end. But when I tried to go to his outside in turn one, as soon as I turned ... the front tires started chattering. I stayed on the gas a little bit and tried to get to his (rear quarter panel) and I couldn't.
cars chance enjoy happy races victory winning
I'm happy for Chad, especially because he hasn't had a chance to enjoy Victory Lane. His cars have been winning races but he was, unfortunately, at home.
happen normal
Just not a normal thing to happen with our engines.
alone anyone bump changes drafting game
We can't play the game of bump drafting like we do at other tracks. That alone changes the race. Here, you don't want anyone around you. At Daytona, you want everyone with you.
chatter guys worry
There are a lot of other guys to worry about, ... I'm not going to let all this chatter get us something to worry about.