NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 10, 2014
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – MADE CONTACT WITH THE WALL IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF FINAL PRACTICE
ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE SCRAPED THE WALL:
“Just ran out of race track, I was trying to get comfortable at the wall and get my car balance set-up so I could run up there. The car is really fast, especially the run prior to our last outing. We feel really good about things. The good news is it’s just a big scratch on the side of the car. The guys are going to take it down to tech and make sure that everything checks out for the second time. We set it up on the scales and nothing looks bent, so just a little drama and new paint job on the right side before the start of the race and we will have this Lowe’s Chevrolet ready to go.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
“Ran out of race track. Just got in there too hot and slipped up and scratched the right side of the car. The good news is it doesn’t look like there is any big damage. It didn’t feel like I hit hard it just kind of scratched the paint. Unfortunately a little bit of extra work for the guys, but prior to that our car has been really strong this second session. We hit on some stuff over the break and it was just feeling good. I’m much more optimistic now than I was the last two or three practice sessions. Things are good.”
WAS THAT A SIGN THEY WERE LOOSENING THE CAR UP?
“No, actually it went the other way. Actually got too tight and drove off in the corner hopeful it would turn sharp enough and I could see it coming. It wasn’t turning sharp enough when I got into the outside wall into (turn) three.”
HOW HAS THE REST OF THE NIGHT BEEN FOR YOU? WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING INTO TOMORROW?
“We were awesome the last two or three runs. The car was really good. So we are very optimistic, especially now that things look okay with the car and there isn’t any suspension or chassis damage it looks like it’s just cosmetic.”
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF COMING UP FROM 21ST AND HAVING TO FIGHT THROUGH TRAFFIC:
“That is why I’m hanging on the wall, got to find a different lane. If I sit there and try to run the bottom with everybody I’m going to junk and just kind of trapped. I have been working bottom, middle, top just making sure that my car has got a nice balance between all three lanes and have been able to produce lap times doing so. Trying to cover all my bases I’ve got to go forward tomorrow night.”