Johnson says team is reacting to slow start to 2008 Cup season
By SceneDaily Staff
Saturday, March 29, 2008
John Harrelson / Getty Images
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – There haven’t been too many times in Jimmie Johnson’s career when he was asked, “What’s wrong?”
But after a start to the 2008 season that includes only one top-five finish in five races, that question has been popping up. Perhaps that’s unfair, but a two-time defending series champion is expected to perform at a different level.
“Well, we’re certainly learning,” Johnson said with a laugh Friday at Martinsville Speedway. “I think that we all get sucked into things that we think are predictable, and we forget that this is racing, and nothing is predictable. This is so tough, and it’s so easy to lose whatever you have. It’s just a tenth or two-tenths of a second that can take you from a hero to a zero.
“We certainly have gotten off to a slower start than we wanted to. But we have had some good races through all that. California went well. Bristol was one of the most competitive Bristols I’ve ever had. We’ve been testing during the past two weeks. And I think we’re a lot smarter, and we’re looking forward to Texas.
“We’ve just been working hard. Maybe we spent a little too much time worrying about last year’s championship, but, hell, I wouldn’t trade that for the world. That’s what we needed to do. I’m learning how to drive this car on the bigger tracks, and we’re learning how to set it up too.”
Johnson sits 13th in the Sprint Cup standings, 201 points out of the lead and 14 points away from a possible berth in the Chase For The Sprint Cup. That’s not where anyone is used to seeing Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team, and he knows it better than anyone.
“We’re not trying to distract anyone, and to be honest, we don’t like where we are either,” Johnson said. “But if you look at different stretches that we have had or that the No. 24 [of teammate Jeff Gordon] has had, or the No. 20 [of Tony Stewart] or any of the big teams, it’s not uncommon to have four or five weeks stretch where they’re not good races.
“We’ve been doing this long enough, and we’re trying not to overreact. But we still are reacting, and we’re trying to get back to our winning ways and the high expectations we have for ourselves outside of the expectations anyone else has of us.”
Martinsville could be a place for Johnson to get back in the win column since he’s won the last three races on the 0.526-mile oval. Johnson also has an average finish of 6.2 in 12 career races, with 11 consecutive top-10 finishes.
“I really think this is the best track we can come to to get back to our ways,” Johnson said. ”I might not qualify stellar here. That’s kind of hit or miss for me. But in the race, something clicks. That’s just Martinsville. I’m really looking forward to this race.
“But I looked at Las Vegas as one of those tracks, but that didn’t pan out for us. So I’m optimistic. But at the same time I know that this is racing. It’s a tough deal. We’ve got to be on our game even here at one of our better tracks.”
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