Jimmie Johnson Wins at Las Vegas
Johnson loves Las Vegas, Stewart Loathes It
For the third consecutive season, Johnson won the third race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season.
I guess it does not matter how high or low the banking is at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, or which Goodyear tire compound is used, Jimmie Johnson is going to win the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400, bottom-line.
For the third consecutive season, Johnson won the third race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season. He led 89 laps en route to his 24th career victory. His teammate Jeff Gordon, who led a race-high 111 laps, capped off a 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports.
Johnson clearly had the dominant car early in the race, but he was forced to restart at the tail end of the lead lap after he was penalized on lap 112 for leaving his pit area while a tire was outside of the 48-pit stall. Nevertheless, it was just a matter of time before he reclaimed the top spot.
After the penalty, Jeff Gordon picked up where Johnson had left off as he pretty much spanked the field up until lap 237 when Jeff Burton and Johnson passed him. After Johnson raced by Burton for the lead, there was no looking back. Burton eventually fell off the pace and faded to a 15th place finish.
Although Johnson’s comeback was impressive, it was far from surprising. The 48 team are no strangers to adversity. A year ago, Johnson won the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas without his crew chief Chad Knaus, who was serving a four-race suspension.
Jeff Gordon acknowledged the 48 team’s resilience. “He and that team, they're fighters," he said. "They proved it today. They prove that with every win they've had here. That's why they won a championship last year. That's why they'll be a threat to win more races this year and a championship."
Tony Stewart candidly expressed his dissatisfaction with the track’s reconfiguration, as well as the Goodyear tires. Earlier in the week, he said, "I thought they screwed up a really nice racetrack.” Stewart did not soften his stance on the track’s conditions during race weekend, “If you look at the last 36 hours and look at how many cars we've torn up, ...if I were car owners, I would send bills to the race track.”
The 2002 and 2005 champion finished the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 in seventh position.
Dale Earnhardt Jr appeared to be on his way to a top five finish before he made a uncharacteristic gaffe during the last caution. Burton had lost power in his engine and was heading to his pits while pit road was closed. Earnhardt Jr followed Burton down pit lane, therefore, NASCAR issued the penalty, and he had to restart the race at the tail end of the lead lap. Earnhardt Jr battled back to an 11th place finish.
Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray, two of the most disappointing drivers in 2006, posted top ten finishes. The 1.5-mile tracks were an Achilles heel for both Newman and McMurray last year.
Will he or won’t he? Mark Martin is still the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship leader after three races into the season, which begs the question; will Martin relinquish the keys to the U.S. Army Chevrolet if he is still the Nextel Cup championship leader after Atlanta next week? With Mark Martin, you never know from one day to the next what he is going to do.
Top 5 Nextel Cup drivers
Mark Martin, 495
Jeff Gordon, 489
Jeff Burton, 453
Jimmie Johnson, 406
Matt Kenseth, 397
In cruise control- Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, and Matt Kenseth
On the rise- Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, and Dale Earnhardt Jr
On the hot seat- Jeremy Mayfield, A.J. Allmendinger, Brian Vickers, and Michael Waltrip Racing
Quote of the week
Casey Mears on Robby Gordon
"Every time I think Robby (Gordon) can't do anything any more stupid than he's already done, he one-ups himself.”
Next race- Kobalt Tools 500, at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Last year’s winner- Kasey Kahne
This year’s predicted winner- Jeff Gordon
