Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson hoping change in mindset pays off at Daytona

By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, July 03, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson is third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings heading into Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway. (David Griffin / NASCAR Scene)

Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson is third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings heading into Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jimmie Johnson has looked almost invincible the past three seasons, winning 19 races and three consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championships.

But if the Hendrick Motorsports driver has had an Achilles heel, it’s been restrictor-plate races. In 30 combined races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Johnson has only two victories, in the 2006 Daytona 500 and at Talladega in April of that year.

Johnson feels he’s fallen a bit behind at restrictor-plate races, especially with NASCAR’s new car.

“The restrictor-plate tracks have been tough on me in general,” Johnson said Thursday at DIS. “There was a period of time where I won a couple of races and then the car kind of changed and went away from there. So in general, defending, trying to pick the right line to be in or to block … those aspects of racing, I have never really been that good at.”

Johnson says it’s not an equipment issue holding him back in plate races. It has more to do with his mental outlook.

“My teammates and I, we talk about different techniques in the cars and about what we do and so far, all the conversations that I have had with everybody … I feel like I’m doing what they are talking about,” Johnson said. “They are such small, split-second decisions and I am missing it somewhere. The end result is … I haven’t been running all that well and I have been running in the back and haven’t led many laps.”

Without being specific, Johnson said he’s going to try a different approach Saturday night in the Coke Zero 400.

“I have a good idea about what I have been doing and I am going to make some changes and take a little different approach to the race this weekend and hopefully it pays off,” he said.
 

Mentioned Drivers: Jimmie Johnson

Comments

4 responses to "Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson hoping change in mindset pays off at Daytona". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    minkee2 said:
    Jul 3, 2009 at 5:01 PM

    If anyone can do it, Jimmie and the #48 crew can get it done!! GO JIMMIE, and HAPPY 4TH TO EVERYONE!!

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  2. 2
    Tuxcatmama said:
    Jul 3, 2009 at 5:57 PM

    Quit thinkin' with your dipstick, Jimmeh!

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  3. 3
    bthompson133 said:
    Jul 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    SMACK!!!! that's for thinking with your dipstick

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  4. 4
    dchessani said:
    Jul 5, 2009 at 2:12 AM

    WELL JIMMIE DARLIN' WHATEVER YOU DID WORKED.. SECOND PLACE WHEWHOOOO! WHAT A FINISH.. VERY HAPPY TO SEE JIMMIE FINISH THAT RACE IN ONE PEICE.. ON TO CHICAGOLAND... GO JIMMIE GO!! YOU ROCK!

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2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings

Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500

1 Jimmie Johnson 6248
2 Mark Martin -184
3 Jeff Gordon -192
4 Juan Pablo Montoya -239
5 Tony Stewart -279
6 Kurt Busch -312
7 Greg Biffle -340
8 Ryan Newman -402
9 Kasey Kahne -414
10 Carl Edwards -437
11 Denny Hamlin -448
12 Brian Vickers -556

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