Jimmie Johnson Tele transcript

TEAM LOWE'S RACING 
Media Teleconference Transcript

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevrolet and crew chief, Chad Knaus, discuss the team's rookie season and outlook for the upcoming Pocono 500.

(Jimmie, Can you comment on Chad Knaus as a leader?) "Chad is relatively new to the crew chief role. He's a young guy at the age of 30.  Intelligence-wise, with racecars and everything it takes to be successful at putting together a car, he's well beyond his years. He's a very good leader. He's been able to communicate and relate to a very young group of guys. That's one of the biggest things we have working for us. We're all very close to the same age. He's a good leader and a good friend. Right now, we've got the double magic going on and it's working good."

(What does it mean when Jeff Gordon says you're running aggressive set-ups?) "The tires change each year and even during the year. We learn more about the aerodynamics of the car. There are things that you can do to the chassis and set-up to give you aero benefits and that also work with the new tire combination. Chad has been extremely aggressive in trying to find some speed in areas where others might not be looking in. Because of past success, it's hard for some to leave set-ups that you won a championship with or that you won an event with the previous year.

"We don't have a lot to lose (in the way of) points and all that. We're just a rookie team that's trying to get going. Chad's been successful in nailing set-ups that a lot of people wouldn't think about running."

(Is there a similarity between the ways you and Chad work together and the way Jeff Gordon and Ray Evernham worked in 1995-'97?) "I don't know Ray and I'm not too sure exactly how things were run. They won a lot of races and had a successful bunch of years together. Chad and I are off to a very strong start in our rookie year. I don't think Jeff won in his rookie year, so we're doing good."

(What were your expectations coming into this Winston Cup ride?) "We're building a team for the future. The way this team has come together has gone past everyone's expectations - Lowe's, myself, Chad - everyone. We just need to be polishing up our game and keep doing what we're doing and not put any extra pressures on ourselves. We've met all expectations at this point. Everything else is gravy. We want to gain experience and learn these tracks so that we can be a championship threat in the years to come."

(In thinking about the recent controversial IRL finish at the Indy 500, do you like the way NASCAR does its 'race back to the yellow', or would you prefer to maintain your position?) "The way they're looking at it is different from any form of racing I've been in. It's either used back to the start/finish or it reverts back to the previous lap. I didn't know that IRL would review exactly when the caution came out relative to where you were on the racetrack because I'm sure there were a lot of positions changing hands on that lap all the way through the field. How do you keep up with all of it?

"NASCAR's way of racing back to the yellow eliminates that problem and it's probably why they have that system in place. It's scary at times - especially if somebody is hurt or if you have fluids on the track. Fortunately, everybody has used their heads and we haven't seen any problems that I'm aware of in racing back to the yellow and hitting parked vehicles or anything. It's been aggravating at times when people pass you and break the gentleman's agreement we've all heard about, but I think the systems is working good. Maybe reverting to the previous lap would be a little safer system."

(On the key to beating the best and being a contender on the toughest tracks) "I'm going to say it's what I'm sitting in - the cars I'm driving. I don't know. I'm not doing anything different than I did in my Busch career. This early in your career, you see a lot of gains. I'm sure I'm a better driver this year than I was last year. The experience from the Busch Series has carried over and helped me. I learned a lot of good lessons from Herzog Motorsports in the Busch cars. Now that I'm driving for Hendrick Motorsports and have Chad as my crew chief, I've been able to post great finishes at top tracks. When we went to Darlington and finished that race (6th) it was the highlight of my career then. That track is one of the toughest places just to drive around - late alone to race around or go fast at."

(On the upcoming race at Pocono) "We tested there and we were really fast. We worked on qualifying runs. It took me a little while to find the speed I needed in qualifying trim. You pick up at least a second - maybe closer to two seconds - from race pace to qualifying pace. It took me a little while to figure that out. But once we did, we put out some good times. I think we'll be a contender up there all week long."

(On learning about shifting during the test session at Pocono) "We just got laps and miles underneath me and learned to understand the shift points and when to shift - when to downshift and when to up shift so I hit the power band right to the motor.  It's just one of those things where the more times you do it, the better you get. And we put in a lot of laps the first day just getting experience. We should be in good shape."

(Do you consider yourself a contender for the victory?) "Yes, I think we'll be a contender."

(With the one-engine rule, have you thought about not shifting at Pocono?) "No, we're going to shift - especially when the tires slow down and the pace drops, you fall out of your power bands to really take advantage of the motors. The one-engine rule makes that margin for error even smaller. The motors stay in such a high rpm range there that I don't see how you can't not shift there. The straightaway lengths are pretty different and you've got some tight corners. I think everybody is going to be shifting."

(Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that their team got burned-out mid-way through his rookie year because the season was so long. What do you think of the length of the season and possibly getting burned-out?) "We're just going to hang on and see what happens. The critics were hard on us after we qualified on the pole at the beginning of the season (Daytona 500) and we've just stuck to our game and have been able to have success. We're going to try not to put pressure on ourselves that's not needed. We're a rookie team. I've made rookie mistakes that have cost us wins. It's just racing and that's how it goes. We're just going to take it week by week and see how we feel at the end of the year. With the youth we have and the desire to win, we should still feel very satisfied at the end of the year."

Chad Knaus responds to the same question: "I think a lot of the time when you see things fall off in the second half of the season is due to the (lack of) preparation back at their home facilities. What we've got going on here with the No. 24 and No. 48 teams is a group of guys who really pay a lot of attention to detail. They make sure our racecars are 100 percent when we take them to the racetrack. If you look back at some of the things Dale Jr. had go wrong during the second half of his rookie season was a lot of mechanical problems. If we can avoid that, and maintain the momentum we've got going on at the racetrack, I think we'll be okay."

(By doing that, do you think you'll force other teams into burning out by trying to keep up with you?) "That's the plan. We're trying to go to the racetrack as prepared as we can. We've got enough guys here and we've got a good workflow to keep everybody fresh. We keep everybody in rotation. People get time off. People get rest. That's one of the big keys. When you get into that long 20-race stretch, you get worn down and it's easy for somebody to get sick because they don't have enough rest. You've got to keep all your key players rested and ready to go and bring good bullets to the racetrack every week and have your driver good and healthy. It shouldn't be much different (then) than it is right now."

(What was you impression of Jimmie before he drove for you and how has that changed?) "I really didn't have much of an opinion at all because I'd only met him briefly one time prior to our initial meeting. I met him on pit road at Homestead. A mutual friend introduced us and it was just a brief conversation. So I didn't have any preconceived notions of what he was or who he was or what he was about or even how good he could drive because I was busy doing my Cup thing last year and he was busy doing the Busch thing. When you run Winston Cup, you don't have much time to watch the Busch races to see what's going on. 

"So I really didn't know what to expect. I knew the guy was talented, otherwise Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick wouldn't have approached him. Jimmie was probably the pivotal person in hiring me. I felt pretty good about that. I knew he must be a pretty good guy if he liked me, you know?  But he's turned out to be a great racecar driver and a great friend. The feeling he's got for a racecar is just really good right now. The more he learns the better off he's going to be."

(Since you are clearly in the hunt in the points chase now, when do you start racing or preparing the cars differently?) "No, that's when you're going to mess up. Our goal has not changed. We established goals at the beginning of the season that we wanted to maintain a top 15 starting position and a top 15 finishing position every week. We go out there every week and try to make our racecar as fast as we can. We're not going to change it. We're not going to back off or start being conservative or anything like that. When you start doing that, that's when the driver starts getting apprehensive on the racetrack and that's when you make mistakes. That's when I start to get overly cautious on the racecar and start making mistakes. We're not going to put ourselves in a position to beat ourselves."

(Would you be disappointed to finish 15th at the end of the year after being currently second in the points?) "No, not in the least little bit. You've got to realize that we didn't even expect to be running in the top five until the second half of the season. Right now, we've already overshadowed and beaten all the goals we set. So if we ended the season 15th in points, we'd know we had a great season. We've already had a better season than some people have in their careers. No matter how it all ends up or plays out for us, I don't think there's any way we can be disappointed."

(Because Jimmie is new to everything - including tires and the feel of the car - does that make your job easier because you're not breaking any bad habits?) "Yes, most definitely. Some of the other drivers have been around for all the different stages of the tires and aerodynamics and have preconceived notions as to how the car is supposed to feel and that's something that you have to work out of a driver and a driver has to get used to it. That's one of the keys to some of these other guys going so fast for so long is that they're able to change their driving styles to what the car actually needs. Right now, we have a pretty good idea of what the car needs, it's just making Jimmie comfortable in the car after we get that established. He's got a feel that he likes. But instead of just saying that we need to do this, he just lets us do what it is that we feel the car needs to go faster and I make him comfortable in the process instead of making him comfortable and then trying to make the car faster."

(Jimmie, on those rare occasions that you have free time, what are your interests and what do you like to do?) "Lately, it's been chasing geese off my grass. It's a lot of work. I live on the lake and like to go out on the boat and wakeboard, water ski, swim, and relax out there when we have a day off. Sitting at home and getting caught up - it feels good to actually get organized every once in a while because we're so busy and on the road (all the time). Just paying bills, cleaning house, doing laundry, and normal life stuff makes you feel good. I find some enjoyment in that.

"My younger brother (Jessie) races a Bandolero. He's 13 years old. Going to the track and watching him is probably the most fun I've had at the racetrack ever. Watching him and all the kids running around in their drivers suits with their little race faces on getting ready to run. I like to do things like that with my family and friends. More than anything, I like to sit slow and slow down a little bit more than anything."

(How do you feel about rookie records and Tony Stewart winning three races in his rookie year?) "When I was watching Tony Stewart, Dale Jr., Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, and those guys, I thought I was going to be the rookie that came into Winston Cup and didn't win a race or a pole. I had no idea what was in store for us when all this chemistry came into play. I don't know what the future holds for us. If we just keep our mental effort the same and remember who we are and where we are and keep it all in prospective, we should be happy regardless of what happens.  I don't know how many neat things are gong to happen for us, but when they do we'll just enjoy them."

(On having his dad there when he won at Dover) "I didn't take the motor home out to California and that's why he wasn't out there. And he decided to stay home because he's on the road more than I am (drives the coach).  My dad was there. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't. She was at LMS when we qualified on the pole. But I was able to get that victory lane photo standing next to my dad in Dover. That's neat. He's obviously been a big part of my career and my life along with my mom and my two brothers. He quit his job in California and moved the family out to Charlotte to be on the road with me and come experience these things. I felt terrible that he wasn't there for California (his win), but luckily he was back on the road with me in Dover."

(What was his reaction in victory lane?) "Well, I couldn't see him. He was floating about six feet off the ground. He was above my head and when I looked up and saw him floating, by I realized he was there. That's a joke. But he was so happy. There was a big grin on his face. He didn't really say much. He was just grinning ear to ear. He was real proud and it's neat to have your family there with you through these experiences. A lot of people don't get to have their relationships with their family for whatever reason."

(On having his dad travel on the road with him) "He really tries to give me my space and let me relax and unwind. He's just like any father. He's a critic and he's always there when you step out of line and you need to do something differently. He's my motorhome driver, but at the same time he's my dad. We get to spend a good amount of time together. Usually on race day morning, he'll cook some breakfast and we'll sit there and have coffee and breakfast and get caught up and talk. But the rest of the time, it's pretty busy. We do what we can."

(Can you talk about the rhythm of the race and explain what that means and how you've learned about it?) "It's something that I learned a lot about in the three races I ran last season - the length of them, the rhythm of how long four, five, or six hundred miles takes.  And then each particular track has it's own rhythm in the limits you can push the car. In Happy Hour (at Dover), we knew we could cut good laps and be consistent time-wise, but I just didn't have a good feel for what the rhythm of the race was going to be. I spoke with Jeff (Gordon) about it. He filled me in with what years past had been like and how the line moves around. And then as the race unfolded, the rhythm even slowed down more. The groove was even wider than what we talked about. But with that little insight from him that evening before the race, it let me recognize this stuff early in the race so I could search out a line and start setting up the car for the rhythm that was needed to be there in victory lane at the end."

(Any desires to run the Indy 500 sometime?) "No, I don't have a desire to race open-wheel stuff. I'd love to drive one. They're neat cars. But I just don't have any ambition to race those cars."

(On his quick success in Winston Cup) "I've always tried to be as realistic as I can be and not fool myself about anything. My two years in Busch were very strong. I ran in the top 10 in points both years and won a race the second year. Didn't win any poles. I just tried to qualify for every race and finish on the lead lap. I am extremely blown away by the success that we've had at this point."

(How much has Jeff Gordon's success at a young age played out in giving younger guys an opportunity to race Winston Cup?) "It definitely started a trend. Car owners are in a tough position in trying to find the right driver for the right sponsor - a driver that can be there for a long time. But at the same time, a driver that has enough experience that can come in and get going. Guys like Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Dale Jr., Kevin Harvick, and now myself are more stepping stones being laid down to bring young guys along - and guys from other forms of racing. This is my fifth year in stock car racing. It's pretty easy to add it up. It's not many over a hundred races I've ever driven in a stock car. It's neat to see owners looking around, but they're in a very tough situation to be able to keep the sponsor happy and look for finishes immediately. Hopefully we've been able to find that balance." 

(What does Lowe's have to say about all this?) "Lowe's loves competition and that's why they're in the sport.  Tony (Stewart, sponsored by Home Depot) and those guys are their competition. Lowe's enjoys the success that we're having. Our race team is in place for the employee/owners at Lowe's to feel proud that they have a program to get behind and to know they have a team and a driver out there representing them. It's not something that's directly put in place just to go beat Home Depot. There are smiles on everyone's faces when that happens, but Lowe's loves the competition with everyone."

(On his feel for the racecar and his style) "I'm searching to find the feelings I need. I haven't been in these things that long. I know the set-ups and know how to set the cars up. I understand the technology that's coming in the way everybody is thinking the cars go, but Chad's got ideas and wants to try them and the stopwatch is telling me it's faster, and consistent and I can hang on to it, that's got to be better. I'm just trying to stay open-minded and not be set on a certain feeling. I've got to make sure it's drivable. But if it's faster, we'll stick with that package and then try to build some comfort into the drive for me so that I can hang onto it for 500 miles."

(On trying to get back through the field on re-starts) "It's a tough situation - especially when you have double file restarts. I was trying to get on everyone's bumper and loosen them up aero-wise (at Dover). Dover is a tough track where you can get extremely aero-tight behind someone and there's a lot of air moving around and I was trying to slow them down so I could get by. I was trying to get my nose inside of people in the center of the corner so their spotter would say something and get them to check-up off the gas so I could have position on them down the straightaway. That's how I got in the side of the No. 7 there. But it's a tough situation to be in when you have a car that fast and you line-up 10th on the outside and before you know it you're the 20th car in line and laps are winding down. All you do is stare ahead and look at cars and start trying to pick them off and hope the leader doesn't get too far away. When we were back there, I thought we'd be lucky to finish fifth. I just figured we'd get extremely aero-tight and be stuck. But luckily, I looked up and the only thing left was the No. 28 (Ricky Rudd) and we were able to get by him and win."

(Why do you race on Father's Day and not on Mother's Day?) "I'd like to hand dad the trophy in victory lane on Father's Day.  That would be good. But I guess dads like to watch racing. On Mother's Day, everyone is making sure she is having a great day and there probably wouldn't be anybody watching the races."

(What advice has Jeff Gordon offered you on how to handle the pressures of success in such a short time?) "You've got to find a way to stay balanced in your personal life and media-wise and sponsorship-wise. And your primary job is driving the racecar. I just try to get some time away so that you're fresh and you can handle all the obligations with an open mind."

(Because of your early success, have you thought about re-negotiating your contract with Hendrick Motorsports?) "No. You'd have to know Rick (Hendrick) and Jeff (Gordon). I know things will take care of themselves. If you're out winning races and doing your job, everything will take care of itself. Realistically, I should be paying for this opportunity myself - let alone making a great living doing it.  I've got a long-term contract, but I hope to be at Hendrick Motorsports with Lowe's for my whole career. I'm thinking about how I can secure as many years as possible so I won't have that pressure."

(What does a driver look for in a crew chief?) "I haven't had many crew chiefs in my career.  But with Chad (Knaus), it's a relationship that we haven't had to work at. From the get-go - our first meeting - we started talking and didn't shut up for hours. I don't think anyone felt we were going to nail this thing. There was a lot of room to grow between Chad and me, but it's definitely clicked and it's working great."

(What's the difference between your team and some of the veteran teams and your success and their non-victories?) "So much of it is the situation you're in (like) equipment and people.  People are the biggest thing. The reason for the success we have is all the people involved. You see team owners shaking things up and moving people around to re-fire that chemistry. The sport is driven by the people that are involved in it;  and I'm surrounded by a lot of great people. That's what has set me out ahead this early in my career.  (Guys like) Kenny Schrader knows how to drive a racecar. In the right situation, he'll win races. I wish I had their (veterans) years of experience. They are so much smarter and advanced than I am as a driver, but just maybe not in the right situation for whatever reason."

(On the Lowe's sponsorship) "They have been in motorsports for a long time and have been looking to have a winning race team. We've been fortunate enough here to have those wins early in our career. But as important as that is for Lowe's, there are 120,000 employee/owners that wanted to feel like this program was for them. When they started over with us to come one board, it was very clear that it was important to them to have this program be embraced by their people. They've made us part of their family and we are part of the people and understand how important this program is to them. It's accomplishing a lot of things for them that they never expected outside of that original goal just to have it back for the employee/owners."

(Is that the kind of feeling you have when you visit a Lowe's store and talk to the people?) "I'm kind of scared to go into a store. They're just so excited about the program - especially around here (Charlotte area) and how big NASCAR racing is. It's neat."

(You're one-win away from breaking the rookie record of three wins by Tony Stewart. Does Lowe's bring that up about beating Home Depot?) "No, I don't think so. I think we'd tie them for the record.  If we were to win one more, we'd tie them for the record. So we'd have to win two more to beat them. But I wasn't even aware that he held the record. I knew that he'd won some races in his rookie year - that he'd won three - but I thought there had been some rookie in the past that had won more."