Jimmie Johnson to race Michael Schumacher at Race of Champions
Quote selected text Published December 14th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Double NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson, has said he cannot wait to pit his skills against the man widely billed as the world’s greatest driver, Michael Schumacher, in The Race of Champions this weekend.
The Team USA hero, who has been drawn against the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion for the first round of The ROC Nations Cup, says he has the greatest respect for the European superstar, which motivates him all the more to snatch victory for The United States.
“Everyone recognizes Schumacher as a champion, and after winning my second straight championship in NASCAR I hope I’m perceived in that way,” said Johnson, who took the NASCAR title this season with 10 wins in the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “Beating him and helping Team USA win The ROC Nations Cup would be a perfect ending to the best year of my career.”
Wembley Stadium has been transformed into a tarmac race track
The ROC Nations Cup aims to determine the fastest country in the world, with two drivers from each pitted against each other in identical cars. This year The Race of Champions is being held at Wembley Stadium, London, England, and the famous landmark has been transformed into a stunning parallel track, using 1,800 tones of tarmac, for the unique event this Sunday.
“I’ve raced The ROC before and did OK,” said Johnson, who won The ROC Nations Cup in 2002 and is hoping his home fans will tune in to the live race coverage at www.raceofchampions.com/live on Sunday (16 December) from 14:00 GMT (09:00 Eastern USA). “My teammate, Travis Pastrana, was the unexpected success of the event last year, almost winning the whole thing single-handedly after I pulled out with an injury. That’s got to give us the edge this year!”
The draw for The ROC Nations Cup was made at Wembley Stadium yesterday, with the individual category being saved for a face-to-face draw at the official press conference tomorrow (15 December).
The ROC Nations Cup draw resulted in the following pairings:
France Sébastien Bourdais Vs Norway Henning Solberg
France Yvan Muller Vs Norway Petter Solberg
Finland Heikki Kovalainen Vs Scandinavia Tom Kristensen
Finland Marcus Grönholm Vs Scandinavia Mattias Ekström
Scotland David Coulthard Vs England Jenson Button
Scotland Alister McRae Vs England Andy Priaulx
USA Jimmie Johnson Vs Germany Michael Schumacher
USA Travis Pastrana Vs Germany Sebastian Vettel
For your last chance to get tickets to The Race of Champions, go to Wembley Stadium’s East ticket window from 10am on Sunday (16 December).
Drivers taking part are:
Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher
Formula One star Jenson Button
Triple and reigning World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx
Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard
Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel
Four-time Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais
Seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen
Two-time DTM Champion Mattias Ekström
Two-time and reigning NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson
Eight-time X-Games Champion Travis Pastrana
Double World Rally Champion, Marcus Grönholm
Renault F1’s Heikki Kovalainen
1995 British Rally Champion Alister McRae
World Touring Car Championship star Yvan Muller
2003 World Rally Champion, Petter Solberg
Five-time Norwegian Rally Champion, Henning Solberg
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I’m guessing Schumacher will pummel him? I really don’t know anything about the guy because I don’t watch open-wheel. And, I could very well be wrong, but even if you’re the most talented driver in your type of racing, how does it make you the best driver of the times? I would think a driver who can drive anything and have success with all different kinds of cars would earn that title-Hence the fact I give it to Tony Stewart; he’s good at dirt, stock, and open-wheel.
I think Bourdais will be a strong contender.
Schumacher will dominate
What type of cars will they be driving?
yeah i can’t really comment until the type of car is divulged…i think they ran rally cars before???…either way it should be fun to watch:)
Schumacher will most likely take JJ in round one because he has the most experience in this sort of racing…
I’m not a fan of Schumacher at all in-fact I can’t stand him. He has always given off a F1 (you little people bore me) attitude with a large dose of self admiration that is a real turn off to most people.
I wish JJ good luck in his quest to give the USA a win this year as well as the other USA driver Travis Pastrana…
schumacher can race anything, he has already proved that. i know a few years ago they used 3 or 4 different cars for different events. dont know if it has changed or not. schumacher is one of the best drivers to have ever lived, and i will be shocked if JJ can beat him. Travis Pastrana will be the best hope for the US, he is a fantastic driver.
on a side note, I can’t believe Lewis Hamilton wasn’t picked for England. He is a better driver than Jenson Button (although I am a Jenson Button fan as well).
Who cares who goes up against Shummy.He is the greatest.Cannot understand why race fans do not like him.He is sophisticated,intelligent,his looks and talent says it all.Keep up the Sport,you are No.1 to me.
David wrote:
Fans want someone who is aproachable not someone with the i’m better then you mentality even if you have the best driving skills people still might not like being pushed aside.
Jimmie Johnson is my favorite driver I wanted him to win the Race Of Champions
I am one of Jimmie Johnson’s biggest fans