NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 10, 2013
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S EMERALD GREEN CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Darlington Raceway and discussed the rich history of the track, his successful start to the 2013 season, his thoughts on Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon making his 700th start and other topics. Full Transcript:
TALK ABOUT RACING AT DARLINGTON AND YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT LAST YEAR’S WIN AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THE VICTORY THIS WEEKEND:
“I think it goes without saying that every team and driver is excited to be in Darlington. We know and understand the impact and the meaning of this race track and what it has done for our sport, the early years and everything in between. I’m very happy to be here. I love driving this race track. After winning last year’s race and winning our 200th for Hendrick Motorsports it took it to a whole new level. Happy to be back and not sure what to expect with the grip level on the track. It’s aging and hopefully we get back to that real porous race track that wears out tires and puts on a great show. The track is so narrow it’s tough for us to race at times. Especially on new tires, you can’t run side-by-side around here, but once we get some laps in and get the tire wear going there is some good passing that takes place. I would assume that strategy is going to be a big part of why the winner ends up in Victory Lane. It’s tough to pass and I think we will get a good idea of tire wear, but strategy in two or four (tires) and really probably having enough fuel, the first one to have enough fuel to go the distance will be a key point in the race too. All that said it’s a track that has in my opinion, the highest sensation of speed out of anywhere we go. This track is narrower than any track and we are at 200 and something miles an hour down the back stretch going into (turn) three. It gets your attention.”
TALK ABOUT YOUR DOMINANT START TO THE SEASON AND BEING THE SOUTHERN 500 CHAMPION FROM LAST YEAR AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS WEEKEND:
“It really has been a good start for the team. Clearly the point’s show that, but I look through it two wins, how prepared out team was for all types of racing. I would say our worst race was, based on performance, was in Fontana. We still managed to get a 12th due to a lot of cautions at the end. We kept pitting and putting tires on and was able to move our way back up through the field. Only one major issue at Bristol, when I blew the right-front (tire) and had a poor finish there, a great start. I think the great start reflects the hard work that was done during the off season by everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. Right not it’s a moving target. To stay on top of the point’s lead is going to be tough. We are still learning the Gen-6 car and each week there is something new that we discover about the car and try to use to make our vehicles faster. We are chasing a moving target right now, but off to a great start and happy about that. Happy to come back to a track that we have won at, that always helps the team walk in the gates and start that first practice session with a lot of confidence.”
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU SEE JEFF GORDON’S LEGACY RIGHT NOW AS HE HITS A MILESTONE OF 700 STARTS?
“It’s amazing that the number is that big. He got such an early start. He is not all that much older than I am, but clearly a lot more starts. I remember watching him all the way back to the Thursday night thunder days when he was running a midget and being a fan. Buying his diecast car from Toys ‘R’ Us because I was a Gordon fan, it went on my dresser at home. When I got the call to drive for him, it was a very surreal moment. To have the friendship and the years go by and working together, being a teammate, I’m happy for him. I am very thankful for the opportunity for starters, but very happy that he has had such an amazing career. It was tough to be a Gordon fan for a period of time there. People were all against him. I was proudly cheering him on and still today. Very happy for him and his 700th start.”
I UNDERSTAND YOU WILL BE COMPETING IN A TRIATHLON IN KING’S MOUNTAIN THE MORNING OF THE ALL-STAR RACE. WHAT IS IT THAT ATTRACTS YOU LATELY TO RUNNING TRIATHLON’S AND DOES IT GIVE YOU ANY PAUSE DOING ALL THAT IN ONE DAY RACING THE ALL-STAR RACE AND THE TRIATHLON?
“Well, things just changed. I will not be competing in that event. Unfortunately, Evie (daughter) has a dance recital on Saturday. It’s a 9 o’clock and the triathlon starts at 8 o’clock. That is going to be a little tough to pull off. I even tried to see if we could move the show to later in the day and it’s not going to work. I have four months of training invested, but it’s all good. I really do enjoy pushing myself from a fitness stand point. It’s something that I’ve had my eye on for years. I look ba
