Jimmie Johnson West Coast Teleconference Transcript

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Teleconference

West Coast Media

Jimmie Johnson (Driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

 

As part of the monthly series of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series conference
calls, West Coast media members took part in a question and answer
session with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver and 2006 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie
Johnson on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The call was moderated by John Cardinale
of Infineon Raceway. 

                        

I want to welcome members of the West Region media to today's conference
call with Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet on the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit.  As you all know, Jimmie captured his first
ever Daytona 500 victory this past weekend.  

 

                        Jimmie, thanks so much for taking time out of
what probably is an unbelievably busy schedule to spend some time with
the West Region media.

 

JJ: "Thank you.  No, it's been a very busy schedule, but a great problem
to have.  Winning the Daytona 500 is a massive accomplishment and
something I'm very proud of and glad to be talking about.  So I'm ready
to get started."

 

I'll just throw out the first question and we'll open it up to the
media.  You've, obviously, won a number of races already in your young
NASCAR Cup career, but I'm guessing winning this Daytona 500 was
definitely a little bit special?

 

JJ: "So special.  The restrictor plate race is such a different type of
racing.  You know, you've got to do a lot of defending your position,
looking in the mirror.  There were a lot of opportunities where I didn't
take the bait, for lack of a better word, in the draft and worried about
racing with different people.  I just stayed focused on my game plan and
being in position with 20 laps to go.  Really from the last pit stop on
and we had a solid day in the pits.  A solid day on the racetrack.  And
after the last pit stop, you know, came out through there and marched
our way to the front and defended it from there."

 

I was out there at the post race press conference on Sunday, and I know
that you and Ryan Newman had some words for each other.  Was most of
that just post race emotions or is that something that might evolve into
a feud at some point in the season?

 

JJ: "No, I really think it's just post race emotions.  I was definitely
disappointed to, you know, come to the media center after winning the
biggest race of my career and be faced with those things.  So I think my
emotions, you know, kicked in and then I had some comments back.  At
this point, you know, it's all water under the bridge.  I want to focus
on the positive things that this race team has done.  We overcame a lot
of adversity, drove an incredible race, incredible pit stops.  There's a
lot of positive things to talk about and I'm tired of all the negative
stuff, to be quite honest with you."

 

You're from California and you're basically coming home after the
biggest win in your life.  You know, there's been this kind of a black
cloud on that coast.  What sort of reception do you think you're going
to get here in California at the speedway?

 

JJ: "I'm definitely hoping for a warm one.  You know, 'California boy
wins the Daytona 500.'  I'm not sure if that's happened before or not.
But, I guess, Jeff Gordon has won it a few times and he claims a couple
different states as home.  But it's been a great ride for me.  You know,
our race fans are nationwide, so I would imagine, you know, the race
fans and the point of view that they had on the east coast may exist out
here in the west coast.  But, you know, I've worked very hard for this.
I've worked my entire life to be in this position to win races.  I hate
the negative stuff that's been around us and surrounding us and it's
nothing that I'm proud of.  But I've got to make the most of a bad
situation and that's what we did on Sunday and went out and won the
race.  I'm looking forward to coming to Fontana, coming off the biggest
win of the year, and then going to my home track is very cool."

 

And you've had a lot of luck at Fontana, also.

 

JJ: "It's been a great track for us.  I think, one, it's been a
successful place for the 48 team.  And, two, I think it's going to give
everybody a good idea of how the start of the season is going to unfold.
Daytona is such a different type of race.  Fontana is really going to be
an eye opener for everyone to see what team, what driver, what
organization has the speed early in the season."

 

I know that probably the biggest single race victory you could have is
the Daytona 500, but the one thing that may be bigger than all of that
is the season championship and you've come so close before.  I know
you're going to be a contender again this year, but it takes more than
just Daytona.  It takes more than just Fontana.  It takes being
successful on a variety of tracks.  So tell me about your overall
program for the entire season, and what was the biggest hurdle for you?
What was the biggest kind of track for you to master that you hadn't
done before?

 

JJ: "I think that the restrictor plate tracks have been tough on me
lately.  We've had some decent finishes, some DNFs.  So I was very happy
to pull into Victory Lane in Daytona and get that monkey off of my back.
The season, as you mentioned, there's a variety of different tracks.
The season is very long.  We have a long time between now and the cutoff
point and then the final ten when it starts up.  So not only on the race
track with our equipment, but outside of the race car, there's so many
other demands on our time. I've got to do a good job of managing my
personal relationships with my sponsors, my fans, the interaction with
the race team and keeping the team together and tight.  We've been
challenged of that here with everything that took place in the last week
and I'm proud of how everyone has stepped up and has rallied around one
another to not let this affect our race team.  So, there's so many
different variables and I think that's why I respect our champion so
highly.  It's a very, very tough thing.  It's also why I'm so proud of
what we've accomplished in the four years in Cup.  We have two seconds
and two fifths.  We don't have a championship, but this is a tough deal.
This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  And championships
don't come easy and I know when we do get one it's going to be very
sweet."  

 

There are no road courses in the final ten races, but Tony Stewart
started his winning streak last year by winning at Infineon Raceway, his
first win in over a year, and then it just kept going from there.  Did
you have any trouble adjusting to becoming a good road racer because
you've become a contender on those types of tracks?

 

JJ: "I would say that Infineon has been the biggest challenge for me of
our two road course tracks that we go to, partly because the Busch
series, the two years that I ran it, we went to Watkins Glen both times
and I was able to get some seat time there and understand the track.
But Infineon is a demanding track, especially for our big race cars.
All the elevation changes and, you know, you can't really see around
some of the turns.  It just takes experience to get used to that.  I
stayed on the track for once up there and qualified second.
Unfortunately in the race we had an issue with the shifter that took us
out.  I used to, in a way, be scared of going to Infineon and was
worried about going there, but now with the success I've had at the
track and my road course program in general and my abilities of driving
on the road course has improved quite a bit, I feel very confident
coming back and I'm looking forward to it."

 

You've been more than patient responding to questions abut Chad Knaus
and the rule violation.  Will you decide at some point just to say
enough is enough and quit commenting on it?

 

JJ: "You know, it's a big deal that it took place.  I think the bigger
story is what this team has overcome and to come back and win the race.
Unfortunately the ruling came out yesterday of, you know, the balance
due on the suspension and now we're facing all these problems again.  So
I'm facing answering these questions again.  So, I look forward to when
it's gone and to when I can really let this victory really soak in and
enjoy it.  Because it's been a hectic couple of days and very tough on
myself and this race team dealing with all the negative questions and
things that have been floating around."

 

I hate to add to the questions, but were you expecting to maybe lose
some driver points?

 

JJ: "I didn't know what to expect since it was in qualifying.  I felt
that hopefully they wouldn't make any ruling on that there.  You know,
it wasn't in the race.  It wasn't like I earned points because of our
car and the issues that we had with it.  It was just for qualifying and
I started in the back of the qualifying race and raced my way through.
So I was expecting it and we didn't get it, but we got four races
without Chad and that's a lot more than any points deduction that you
could ever imagine."

 

I hate to beat this into the ground, but obviously after Chad Knaus got
caught for the infraction on the rear window, NASCAR had to have you
under the biggest magnifying glass on the planet and you withstood every
inspection before, during and after the race.  And yet still there are
some drivers that are carping about the fact, well, you know, he's doing
something unfair.  How do you get around this or how do you beat it?

 

JJ: "I don't know.  I'm living it right now and I'm not sure how I get
around it to be honest with you.  It seems that it's kind of a monster
that takes on its own and it just keeps coming back to life.  So I'm
hoping when we go into Fontana and the story line changes and we're back
on the track racing again that it will go away.  But I don't have an
answer for you on that."

 

Chad was talking yesterday about the adversity and how you guys always
seem to rise above that when you have these kinds of problems.  Why is
that?

 

JJ: "Well, I think that we're a strong race team.  I can tell you right
now I don't like being in this position.  I don't want to be in this
position.  And I certainly hope that we never are again in this
position.  This isn't the reputation that I want my race team to have.
It's not the reputation that I want to be associated with.  So I hope
we're never in this position again, but I think when you are in this
position it challenges you and you have the weight of the world on your
shoulders in a sense and you've got to decide what you're going to do at
that point.  And my race team and myself, there's no way that any of
this is going to change our desire to be the best team out there or our
desire to win and succeed.  So I think throughout that you just see what
we're made of.  And, you know, we're a winning organization, a
championship caliber team and even when the times are tough we're not
going to give up."

 

You said you like Fontana so much.  What do you like about Fontana?

 

JJ: "First of all, it's my home state.  Secondly, it's where I won my
very first Cup race.  And it's been a good track for me in general.  So
I love being out on the west coast.  I grew up out here in San Diego in
the San Diego area, and NASCAR really wasn't around that much then.  The
TV package isn't what it is today and I've always been a huge fan of
racing and something that's been my passion.  Something that I've loved.
So I'm excited to be out here banging the NASCAR drum and showing the
west coast what we're all about."

 

With all the talk going into Daytona about aggressive driving and bump
drafting, and NASCAR not tolerating that, is there any one thing that
you see that you think needs to be changed or looked at?

 

JJ: "I think NASCAR did a great job of having a talk with us in the
driver's meeting, and they were put in the position to make a few calls
on aggressive driving.  They pulled the trigger on it and penalized some
drivers, and I think that sends a huge statement out to the drivers.  We
had a problem in the past racing below the yellow line, and NASCAR
didn't want to be in this position, but they said in our judgment if
you're down there advancing or you shove someone out of bounds, we're
going to call you on it.  And it's really, really helped that part of
our sport.  And, again, I don't think NASCAR wants to be in a position
to determine what is too aggressive on the race track, but they're in
that position and they made a couple calls.  I can tell you from being a
driver and watching them make those calls and penalize drivers, you
know, it kept me on my best behavior out there as well."

 

Can you talk about Tony Stewart and the bump drafting and the sort of
objective position he's in, and how that's going to play out in the
races?  Is he going to be a serious competitor with you?

 

JJ: "No, he's definitely a serious competitor, and I was expecting to
see him up front [in Daytona].  He still finished fifth throughout all
these troubles in the race, which is amazing.  But I think everyone
that's been around racing respects Tony Stewart for speaking his mind.
At times, you know, it may not have been the best choice and gets him in
trouble and other times it plays out well.  You know, granted he said
some things that really kind of shocked everyone but something was put
in place.  I think it made a better race on Sunday and even in the duals
when NASCAR came in and said we're going to keep an eye on the
aggressive driving.  So, all in all, I think a positive was made out of
all of it.  And, you know, like I said, we know Tony.  We love him for
his outspoken nature and his aggressive driving.  And, you know, that's
what happened in the race and he served his penalty and came back and
finished in the top five.  So, it's just an exciting day at the office."

 

Does it ever wear on some of you other drivers, the way it did Matt
Kenseth, that it's always someone else's fault, it's never Tony
Stewart's, or is that just the way drivers are?  Is that the way you are
too when there's an incident on the course?

 

JJ: "Well, I can say my experience is there's different flare ups you
have at different times with drivers, and they always seem to work
themselves out.  Some of them last a little longer and involve some, you
know, more severe things on the race track.  But I wouldn't expect to
see Matt and Tony's deal to last much longer.  Tony is a very
well-respected driver.  So is Matt.  They're both strong individuals and
strong personalities, but I definitely think that they'll get everything
sorted out and, you know, that will be the end of it.  It's in both of
their best interests to have it go away, and it's too early in the
season to have this type of thing happening."

 

Are you in pretty good shape with all of your other competitors?

 

JJ: "I'm in good shape.  We had the Budweiser Shootout, the dual and
then the Daytona 500, and everything was smooth.  I think I had one
donut mark on the side of my car, which is pretty good for a plate race.
So, all in all, I'm in good shape right now."

 

Now that you're off restrictor plates, does the racing get harder
because there's more variables?

 

JJ: "Without a doubt.  It's much more difficult for the engineers, for
the crew chiefs, the drivers.  Daytona is an amazing event, a huge
event, but Fontana is the start of what the championship is based on.
So, I'm excited to get to the race track and get to work and see where
we stack up against the competition."

 

What are some of the things you think you're going to be facing this
season?

 

JJ: "We have the new body with the new Chevrolet Monte Carlo.  There's
been a lot made of the Ford Fusion, but the Chevrolet Monte Carlo is an
entirely new race car.  So there's been as many changes, templates, as
the other brand.  We have the same name with Monte Carlo instead of a
new brand on the vehicles.  So, we're going to be sorting out a brand
new aero package on top of the advances that we've made over the season
on the chassis side and the suspension and the handling of the car for
mechanical grip.  So, we really have a brand new package at Hendrick
Motorsports and I think most of the Chevy teams have a new aero package
that they're going to be learning on top of what they were working on
over the off season to better the mechanical grip of the race car."

 

Do you think you have your package tested enough?

 

JJ: "Well, we only had one chance to test in Las Vegas.  We really would
have liked to be out more and testing more and hit some more tracks, but
with the new rules we're really limited.  We'll show up this weekend and
really the first practice session is going to be a test session of ways
to see where we stack up, and if we're good we'll breathe easily and if
we're off we've got to get to work."