Warren Report: Indy Edition
JOHNSON GUNS FOR SEVENTH U.S. NATIONALS TITLE
For the 27th time in his racing career, Warren Johnson is preparing for
the U.S. Nationals. Getting ready for Indy has been an annual ritual since
W.J. first ventured to Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1971 with a car he
had constructed in his driveway. Now instead of an open trailer and a tent
in a campground, Johnson's Indy adventure features an 18-wheeler packed
with parts, a hotel room with a shower, and a state-of-the-art GM
Performance Parts Pontiac. But not even decades on the drag racing circuit
and six U.S. Nationals victories can diminish the magic of drag racing's
biggest event for Johnson.
A successful one-day test at IRP last week has stoked W.J.'s optimism as
he pursues his seventh career U.S. Nationals title.
"We ended up going 6.86 at 200.75, which was the fastest speed of the
test session," Johnson reported. "When we ran our quickest time, everyone
else had slowed down several hundredths. I'm optimistic that we're headed
in the right direction."
The open test in Indy provided a rare opportunity for Johnson to compare
his on-track performance with his rivals.
"We seldom have an opportunity to test under the same conditions as
our competitors," he noted. "There were some items we've wanted to test all
season long, but between personal appearances, rainouts and everything
else, we didn't have an opportunity to try them until last week. Now it
appears that we've picked up a solid two hundredths from where we were."
In the most competitive category in motorsports, a few hundredths of a
second can be a formidable advantage. But in spite of the apparent gains he
made in testing, Johnson anticipates another Pro Stock free-for-all in
Indy.
"I don't expect to see a dominating performance by a single car,"
Johnson predicted. "There will be several cars with the capability to win
if they maintain a consistent level of performance. Quick elapsed times
aren't enough any more; the driver and crew must be perfect because there
is no margin for error."
Johnson regards the IRP track, which was refurbished before last year's
race, as a premier venue for NHRA's premier event.
"It's the smoothest track we've seen this year," Johnson observed.
"There's not a bump on it, and both lanes were nearly identical. Unless
there are some significant oildowns, I don't foresee the track being a
factor on race day."
The Johnson family virtually owned Indy in the '90s, making eight
straight final-round appearances from 1992 to 1999. Warren scored four
consecutive victories in 1992-95, was runner-up in 1998, and posted another
victory in 1999. Kurt scored back-to-back victories in 1996-97. Now after a
two-year absence from the IRP winner's circle, W.J. is optimistic about his
chances of notching another Indy victory.
"Kurt and I have had so many off-track obligations that we haven't been
able to concentrate on raising our performance level to where it needs to
be," Johnson revealed. "Now we're finally finding the time to work on the
cars and engines. That's going to help for the balance of this year, and
also give us a head start for next season."
WARREN JOHNSON'S U.S. NATIONALS RECORD
Year Qual. Result
1971 28 First Round
1975 12 Second Round
1976 7 Second Round
1977 5 Second Round
1978 2 First Round
1981 16 First Round
1982 1 First Round
1983 4 First Round
1984 2 Winner (over Glidden)
1985 3 Semifinals
1986 4 Second Round
1987 4 Semifinals
1988 1 Runner-up (to Glidden)
1989 6 Second Round
1990 1 Second Round
1991 1 First Round
1992 2 Winner (over Morgan)
1993 1 Winner (over Geoffrion)
1994 2 Winner (over Pawuk)
1995 1 Winner (over Worden)
1996 2 First Round
1997 3 First Round
1998 1 Runner-up (to Edwards)
1999 1 Winner (over Anderson)
2000 4 First Round
2001 3 Second Round
