Jimmie Johnson crashes pole-winning car in practice, will start from rear Sunday
Quote selected text Published September 29th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Jimmie Johnson bobbled, spun and tapped the wall between turns 3 and 4 during final practice for the Nextel Cup Series LifeLock 400 on Saturday, requiring his team to pull out a backup car at Kansas Speedway.
As a result, the polesitter for Sunday’s race will now start from the rear of the field.
“I just lost it getting into Turn 3,” Johnson said. “The car was kind of loose. I thought it was coming to me and so I started opening up my entry into the corners and it just got out from underneath me getting into Turn 3.
“We definitely didn’t need that. The car we’ve got [as the backup] is the car we won California with. I’ll have to start in the back but this track is wide and good. And we can race anywhere. I really don’t have any big concerns besides getting run over [from] behind us.”
Though the damage to his primary car was not major, the team deemed it necessary to use a backup and immediately went into action after the wreck occurred. Johnson, who was uninjured, was in the seat and the engine was fired with 35 minutes left in practice.
“The damage … is more significant than it may look from a cosmetic standpoint,” Hendrick Motorsports Vice President Doug Duchardt said. “The entire left side of the car is caved in, so basically it is wrecked. We asked NASCAR and they said we could pull out the backup car.
“Aero here at Kansas is very important and given the option to use a backup car that we know is 100 percent, even to start in the back, is the best option in the Chase.”
- Seven drivers to drop to rear of field for Bud Shootout
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- Newman blows engine in practice, will start Sunday’s race from the back
- Jimmie Johnson wins pole at Richmond
- Bristol qualifying rained out, Johnson to start from pole

::falls off chair laughing::
SORRY SORRY… BUT..
L O L !!
Hey now you!!!! Be careful rippin on my California boy!!!
Bummer…..
They say it’s better to be lucky than good
Sorry Donny but your CA. BOY was neither one today.. HA HA HA
people dont realize that everybody makes mistakes. it has nothing to do with experience nor age bad things happen to good people sometimes. for the people who sling mud always sometime or another gets it thrown back at them even harder. i’ll translate that to dummy terms for those who dont understand. what goes around comes around rag on somebody something will comeback on you worser that is very true. also im not a jj fan either
Too bad it wasn’t in the race…DAMN! hahaha
FYI: ‘Worser’ is NOT a word.
Looks like Matt will have one less car to pass now.
Dude, it’s OK.
It was only practice people, relax!!!!
Matt Kenseth couldn’t pass Hendrick power today what makes ya think he could do it tomorrow???
Lets just let the boys decide this one on the track for us tomorrow….
That’s sooooooo sad.
i hate jj, but he does have the talent to win from dead last. matt couldn’t keep his car on the track anyways. yes yes talk crap about jeff gordon but look at the points system heading into and will be leaving as the points leader.
Later
Anytime a Hendrick’s car has to start from the rear of the field, its a great day! Now all we need is for Gordon to wreck on lap one, and it will be a perfect day lol.
sushstewart20 im laughing at stewart for his mistake earlier HAHAHAHAHA penalty coming right up
my my, but that TC will kick in when he needs to drive to the front and he will drive through the field to take the lead when he feels the need. He is a NASCAR boy……. like J. Gordon did to win his four CC.
Hey, hey, hey, this is a money sport, NOT racing……………….
hmmmmmmm!!!!!! started at the back but look where he is now…….and what did you say…… thats what i thought…….
Ha… 1st to 43rd to 3rd… and would have been back to 1st if it hadn’t gotten dark. Nice. Jimmie Johnson is the man. And all of you non-JJ fans know it but hate to admit it.
He’s the best driver to come into nascar in a long long time.