NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
AAA 400
DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S KOBALT TOOLS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed the unforgiving nature of Dover International Speedway, the new rules package and tire testing, the pressures of the new Chase for the Sprint Cup format and more. Full Transcript:
AS THE WINNER OF THE LAST TWO RACES HERE AT DOVER, YOU WILL ATTEMPT TO JOIN DAVID PEARSON, RUSTY WALLACE, AND JEFF GORDON AS THE FOURTH DRIVER TO NOTCH THREE CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES THIS WEEKEND. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS TRACK MEANS TO YOU?
“I wasn’t aware of that opportunity in front of the team this weekend. Obviously I know we’ve had a lot of wins here and would love to get another win. It’s that time of the year when wins are very important. At the same time, the way this Chase format works, we don’t have to win leaving here to advance to the next round, so that’s kind of a nice position to be in. And it takes a little bit of pressure off and allows us to go out and just kind of have some fun today and tomorrow; and hopefully that sets up a great driving race car for Sunday’s race.”
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SHAPING-UP TO BE A PENSKE VERSUS HENDRICK CHASE. TALK ABOUT THE STAYING POWER OF HENDRICK WITH FOUR GUYS IN THIS CHASE; WHAT HAS KEPT IT ON TOP FOR SO LONG?
“It’s obvious that Rick (Hendrick) gives us all the tools that we need. But, I would say the top four or five organizations are well funded with great resources and a lot of depth. So, when I look around, I really think that the people that work in these organizations make the difference. The hunger that exists inside of Hendrick Motorsports is second to none. That culture goes way back. It really starts from Rick’s vision and Rick’s competitive desire. And then individuals and department heads and employees as they’ve come along have all taken great pride in that and kept that culture alive.
“I feel like I’m someone that showed up and was forced to perform in short order. I knew that I needed to, coming in and being in the position that I was driving Jeff’s (Gordon) cars being handpicked, and that just sort of shows the culture that exists in the company. I knew the pressure was there and I had the tools and the environment to succeed and was able to take advantage of it. And that environment to succeed is something we pride ourselves on and that’s the environment we try to create.”
TALKING ABOUT THAT CULTURE, DO YOU EVER GET BURNED-OUT ON PERFORMING ON SUCH A HIGH LEVEL? WHAT DO YOU DO TO TRY TO GET IT ALL AWAY AND START OVER?
“When you’re performing at that high level, there’s no chance of burnout. It’s awesome. It’s fun. When you aren’t running where you want to run, and not having the success that you would like to, that’s when it gets tiresome and tough. But honestly, that’s when you learn more about yourself. That’s when you learn more about your team and more about your organization and can rally back from that. As we all know, our season is awfully long. And when you get past that decade mark in the sport, I think you’re a true road warrior.
“And then when I look at guys like (Jeff) Gordon, near the 20-year mark or past the 20-year mark, and the success that he has had and the type of year he’s having right now and the hunger that he has, there’s just a competitive environment in all of us that keeps ticking. Jeff is proof that even after the long, successful career he’s had, he’s still in a position to win another championship.”
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RULES PACKAGE AND HOW YOU PERCEIVE BECAUSE OF THE CUT OF TESTING AND HOW YOU’LL GET UP TO SPEED, OTHER THAN THE WIND TUNNEL, HOW YOU GUYS EXPECT TO GET BACK TO WHERE YOU WERE?
“We’re just going to have to focus harder on our tools, wind-tunnel, 7-post, simulation programs; the Goodyear tire tests are still up there. I’m not sure how those are going to be exactly handled, but that could be an opportunity if they want to allow the whole field to go and get some on-track time, which would be amazing for Goodyear to really get those kind of race-time environments and conditions for the tire test; I think that would be good. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. That’s just an idea that’s come about in my mind.
“The rules package in general, I don’t think that any one change is going to make or break the rules package. I think it’s a combination of changes, mechanical grip, aero balance, the engine package and gear ratio that they’re working on for a long-term vision of bringing costs down; and then a very important piece of the whole puzzle is the tire. So, it’s not an easy process for NASCAR to juggle all those items and to keep everybody smiling.
“But I feel that we made a good step in helping the drivers smile, with taking downforce out of the cars. And hopefully that will allow the tire to soften-up and then we can have falloff. I still think the drivers would love to see another big step in the aero department and less aero on the car and a softer tire yet, to really put the importance back on the drivers and the teams. The tires, for the most part, are pretty solid with not a lot of give-up or falloff in them. And that, in our opinion as drivers, doesn’t allow opportunities to pass and make passes for the win.”
IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY ISSUE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS TIRING TESTING GOES IS IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH RUBBER ON THE TRACK IT REALLY WON’T GIVE GOODYEAR THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED, RATHER THAN JUST FOUR OR FIVE GUYS LIKE THEY USUALLY HAVE, ARE YOU GOING TO GET IT A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE THE COMPETITORS ARE DEPENDING TOO MUCH ON THESE GOODYEAR TIRE TESTS AND GOODYEAR MAY NOT GET A GOOD READING BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPETITORS ON THE RACE TRACK
“I think the only downfall that you might be point out from a tire-test standpoint and a lot of cars, would be the opening 20 or 30 minutes of the race track on a race weekend, or if there was a rain delay, or some type of rain overnight. But I think that’s a small piece of the puzzle to worry about. I think as a whole, the best time to test would be following a Sunday Cup race, when the track is totally rubbered-up. Bring all the cars back, and find a tire that’s going to put on an awesome finish. Two thirds of the race would really be a tire that performs and creates the excitement we want on the race track. I think there are easier ways to fix the short run, the green race track, for whatever the conditions and reasons there may be. That would be a lot easier to fix, in my opinion, than a better race tire.”
CAN YOU PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE UNFORGIVING NATURE OF THIS TRACK? CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW UNFORGIVING IT IS?
“Your intensity, you really drive qualifying laps each and every lap around here. With the radial tire and the speeds that we’re going here, when you slip you need room to save it. And we know on corner exit, there really isn’t any room to save it here. And if you do spin, walls are nearby and the straightaways are so banked that unless you have some miracle spin like I did in qualifying, I spun like a top on the front stretch, you’re going to hit something. So it is very unforgiving when you cross the line. The line is very high up there, or out there, and that’s what makes this place so much fun is that you attack and you drive so hard and you get up to the line and build confidence in it, but the second you step over the line, this place eats you.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT TONY STEWART BEING CLEARED BY THE GRAND JURY? IF HE HADN’T HAVE BEEN CLEARED, WHAT KIND OF REPERCUSSIONS WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN FOR SHORT TRACKS?
“I guess I don’t understand enough about it all and what the repercussions for short tracks would be. Still, first and foremost, I just don’t want to ignore the fact that it was a massive tragedy that took place. The toxicology report is shocking to see. From a friend perspective and worrying about Tony and understanding what he’s gone through and how tough this has been on him, I’m sure there is some type of relief that it’s kind of done, in that respect. But at the same time, coming back to the Ward family, even in the remarks I read from Tony, I’m sure he feels okay about not having this go any further and there being legal actions. A civil suit is still out there and that can happen for any reason; to anybody in this room. But, the other side of it, still first and foremost on Tony’s mind is that it was an accident and his heart is still out for the Ward family.
“And I just echo those same things. It’s such a tragedy to have these details come out and people potentially forming sides, there’s just no good in that. It’s just been a terrible accident and we need to pay respect to Kevin Ward Jr., and I don’t know how you go on, but just move forward.”
YOU ARE IN GOOD SHAPE THIS WEEKEND REGARDING THE CHASE. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PRESSURE THAT COMES WITH THE VARIOUS ROUND OF ELIMINATION AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE DRIVERS AND THE RACING THAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON SUNDAY AND FUTURE ELIMINATION ROUNDS?
“Yeah, we’re going to learn a lot this weekend on how that pressure is taken. In the past, we’ve had the Richmond pressure, which we’ve all seen and experienced; and then maybe the last three races of the Chase, you can feel that pressure building up. But with all these elimination rounds, there’s an opportunity for that pressure to build for four drivers each and every week; and maybe up to six guys, above that four in the bump-out zone that are kind of close to being knocked out. So, I think it lets a few people off the hook and you can kind of relax.
“Like right now, I’m sure that Joey (Logano) and Brad (Keselowski) are sleeping just fine. But the guys down in 12th to 16th, they’re stressing. They’ve got to show up here and get it done. In some ways I guess to generalize, it just spreads the championship pressure out amongst everybody. Whereas, in the past, it started off with however many dealing with it, and then it just emerged with one or two at the end kind of feeling all the weight of the world. Now, everybody equally gets to share in the pain.”
WITH THE PENSKE GUYS GETTING THE FIRST TWO WINS OF THE CHASE AND GETTING ALL OF THE ATTENTION, DOES IT HELP YOU GUYS TO BE KIND OF IN ‘STEALTH MODE’? OR, DOES YOUR APPROACH REALLY CHANGE AT ALL?
“No, there’s just so much more to be gained by dominating by winning and sending a message through performance on-track; those aspects are vital. But the thing I keep looking at is I think a lot of us are so wired and programmed to think of the 10-race stretch. But, I mean, really it is transfer, transfer, transfer, best race of the season. It is what you need. So, we’ve all looked at the ‘what if’ sides of this, but somebody could go the entire Chase season and not win a race and be the champion.
“What I’m getting at is that it’s too difficult to predict. It’s too difficult to pick momentum. When everything comes down to one race, there are just too many variables. Too much can happen and I’m not really stressing about anything sitting where we are in points right now. I know the Penske guys are going to be tough. But if they win the first nine races, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to win at Homestead. It’s just a totally different thing now.”