Jimmie Johnson crashes in practice; AJ Allmendinger qualifies third for Rolex 24
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson crashed during practice Thursday while AJ Allmendinger put his car third on the starting grid for the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnson, who drives the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet in NASCAR’s Cup series, was treated and released from the infield medical center after crashing the Bob Stallings Racing car. Because the entry was too damaged to participate in qualifying Thursday, the team will have to take laps in the qualifying session Friday.
"He feels ugly but OK,” team owner Bob Stallings said about Johnson. “He’s not injured in any way. He may be sore, but there’s no reason for him not to race this weekend.”
Johnson, driving a Daytona Prototype, said he was cut down on by another car – one from the slower Grand Touring division – in the road-course portion of the track. Johnson backed the car into the wall “pretty hard,” Stallings said, adding the other driver probably didn’t see Johnson, while Johnson thought the slower car was moving out of his way.
“I put myself in a position with a GT car that I shouldn't and paid the price,” Johnson said in a statement. “I hate it that I tore up equipment and put the guys in this spot. It looks like we will get this fixed and hopefully everything will be good for tomorrow.”
A new rear assembly for the Riley chassis is being put together in Concord, N.C., and Johnson is providing air transportation to have the assembly flown to Daytona. The team hopes to be back on track in time for the Friday morning practice session.
Backup cars are not allowed in the series to help contain costs.
In qualifying, Richard Petty Motorsports’ Allmendinger put his Michael Shank Racing Ford third on the grid with a speed of 126.753 mph on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon put the car he will co-drive with Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray and Dario Franchitti in the fourth spot for the 24-hour race, which begins Saturday afternoon. Germain Racing’s Max Papis, also driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, will start fifth.
Roush Fenway Racing’s Colin Braun, driving for Krohn Racing, will start ninth. RPM’s Paul Menard, who will drive for Spirit of Daytona Racing, watched his car qualify 10th.
Boris Said is part of the Turner Motorsport team, which will start 22nd. TRG Motorsports’ Bobby Labonte will co-drive a car that qualified 23rd.
Starting on the pole for the event will be SunTrust Racing’s Max Angelelli.
