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DAYTONA BEACH, Florida.
Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr., then held off Kurt Busch and Earnhardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500 on Sunday. |
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Tickets - Races - Concerts |
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| Summer 2005 Concerts: |
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Order Tickets Online or
Call
1-888-638-1800 |
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Jimmy Johnson Driver Profile
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 Born: September 17,1975, in El Cajon, Calif.
Lives in: Mooresville, N.C.
Height, weight: 5-11,175
Car: No. 48 Chevrolet
Car owner: Rick Hendrick
Crew chief: Chad Knaus
Engine builder: Hendrick Motorsports
First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race.
October 7,2001, at Lowe's; started 15th,
finished 39th
Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 14
2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 8
First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win: April 28, 2002,
at California; started 4th Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 7 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 1 First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole: February 9,
2002, at Daytona; finished 15th Best points finish: 2nd (2003,2004) |
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WHERE HE'S FAST: Johnson
races well at all tracks and even scored the first short track win of his career last year when he won in October at Martinsville. He's best on the intermediate tracks-he swept races at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2004-and showed his muscle at the series' most unique track, sweeping at Pocono, a superspeedway that drives like a road course. Johnson was most proud of his sweep at Darlington, the track most drivers consider the toughest to drive.
WHERE HE'S SLOW: Although Johnson qualified on the front row for both New Hampshire races, he did not finish in the top 10 in either. Team Lowe's did pick up the pace at Phoenix, another flat mile track, where the No. 48 finished sixth. Three seasons into his career, Johnson still hasn't won a restrictor-plate race, although he has run well at Daytona.
STRENGTHS: Johnson won one pole and started on the front row four times (twice because of points). He only qualified outside of the top 20 three times. His strong qualifying efforts helped him to lead 1,312 laps-more than any other driver and twice more than his total in 2003-in 24 races. Only teammate Jeff Gordon scored more bonus points. Johnson likes a challenge, especially battling through the pack to come up to the front. Johnson showed tremendous talent through the esses at Infineon, where he started 34th and drove to a top five finish. He also came from behind at Homestead, where he took his only provisional start of the season. Despite starting 39th, Johnson finished second.
WEAKNESSES: Mechanical consistency. Johnson had seven DNFs and watched his points lead fade fast in August when three consecutive engine failures knocked him off the top of the leader board. Although Johnson started from the pole in two of those races-Watkins Glen and Michigan-he led just one lap and finished 40th in both events.
IN THE PITS: Crew chief Chad Knaus knows how to get the most from his team and his driver. At crunch time, Johnson maintains the lead or gains track position coming out of the pits. This team is as resilient as its driver. There will be at least one change to the over-the-wall crew for 2005: Tim Ladyga is replacing Shane Parsnow as a rear tire changer.
BOTTOM LINE: Despite a remarkable rally that included four wins in the Chase fortheNASCARNEXTEL Cup, Johnson couldn't complete the comeback because of DNFs at Talladega and Kansas. Although Johnson finished second in points, just like he did in 2003, he improved dramatically as a driver during his third season. This is the season Team Lowe's wins its first championship. |
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Crew chief Chad Knaus and driver
Jimmie Johnson are considered by most
to be the top combination in the garage.
Knaus generally makes sure the car is
good when it is unloaded at the track,
but he and Johnson have proved adept
at making changes during races. When
it looked like this bunch was finished in
the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup,
Johnson rallied to win four of five races.
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