Johnson could have a say in this year's Chase outcome
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, August 29, 2008
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FONTANA, Calif. – While many are making the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup a duel between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, two-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson likely will have a say in who wins the title this year.
Johnson had his say about the two drivers’ personalities Friday, as well as where he fits in with the two drivers.
“I don’t know exactly how to explain it: Carl’s like the good guy, Kyle would be the bad guy,” Johnson said Friday at Auto Club Speedway, site of Sunday’s Pepsi 500. “[They are] two totally different personalities, but I think the fans respect what they are on track and what they’re doing.
“I hope to be in there and have you guys talking about three guys here pretty soon and be the [politically correct] guy – which I guess I’ve been labeled for whatever damn reason – in the middle of it showing you I’m not so PC and I can get in there and spin people out, too.”
Johnson likely won’t try to spin anyone out this weekend, for the speeds are very high at the 2-mile track and would make a bump-and-run move like Edwards used at Bristol Motor Speedway very dangerous.
But Johnson would like to get to victory lane at the track where he’s scored two previous victories, including his first Cup series win.
Johnson would like another win, too, to close the gap on Busch and Edwards once the Chase begins. Drivers are seeded based on victories in the first 26 races, and Johnson has two wins in 2008, compared to eight for Busch and six for Edwards.
“Yeah it would mean a lot for us to win on a big track like this,” Johnson said. “Mile-and-a-half and above tracks and downforce tracks have been kind of our weak spot. We’ve been making a lot of gains. Hopefully we made some gains that will help us this weekend and moving into the Chase ...
“Last year it just started the confidence in our minds that we’re ready for the Chase. Regardless of the fact we are ready. Especially the top-five guys have a very good point of view or mindset they’re going to be in the Chase. So you’re looking at what you need to do to be as good as you can in the Chase and building the confidence around yourself and the team that you can be a contender.
“We have learned that, we know that we can do it. Our past history shows that we can do it, but winning here last year just kind of cemented those confident thoughts in place and we rolled it from here into Richmond and won again on a track that’s been very challenging to us over the years. That really just put us in the right mindset that, 'Hey you can do this.'
“We needed that momentum as well because [Jeff] Gordon was on a tear and if he had a bad day was finishing third or fifth or whatever it was. So it was a big part of the confidence and the mindset that we had moving forward.”
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Jimmie Johnson
Comments
1 response to "Johnson could have a say in this year's Chase outcome"
4da88 said:
Sep 1, 2008 at 12:29 AMBeen saying it all along. And last nights performance proves he is back in the race.
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