Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Jimmie Johnson is the best active driver at Brickyard

Jimmie Johnson is 8/1 to win at Brickyard for fifth time. 
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Indianapolis
“Indy no doubt is a special track. It would be so special to get a fifth win there. That track has shown me the high of highs and the low of lows in my career. We tested there in April and it was a challenging test session. The cars will be very loose into the corner. I feel like we were the best car at the test session so I hope when we unload on Saturday it's an advantage for this Lowe’s team.”

DANNY CLINCH PHOTO TAKEOVER: As part of his ongoing photography project designed to showcase life at the track with a unique perspective, Jimmie Johnson has invited noteworthy photographer and film director Danny Clinch to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Clinch began his career as an intern for Annie Leibovitz and went on to photograph the likes of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Tupac Shakur, The Smashing Pumpkins, Blind Melon, Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam and Phish. Clinch's photographs have appeared in many publications including Vanity Fair, Spin, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. Clinch has presented his work in numerous galleries and has also published four books titled "Discovery Inn," "When the Iron Bird Flies," "Still Moving" and "Motor Drive." Clinch has also been featured on "60 Minutes" and has received three Grammy Awards for his role as a director. With a social media takeover on Johnson’s handles (@JimmieJohnson on Instagram & Twitter, Jimmie Johnson on Facebook), Clinch’s work will be highlighted for all NASCAR fans to enjoy. For more info about Clinch and his work, click here.

SERIES-HIGH DRIVER RATING: According to NASCAR's loop data statistics since 2005, Johnson has the series-best driver rating at Indianapolis with a score of 105.7. The driver rating is a formula that combines wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The driver rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator. Since 2005, Johnson’s average finish at Indianapolis is 13.0.

SEVEN TIME IS A FOUR-TIME BRICK-KISSER: Johnson has won the prestigious Brickyard 400 four times in his career. His first win came in the 2006 season followed by back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009. He is the only driver to have ever recorded consecutive wins in the race. Johnson’s latest win at the Brickyard came in 2012 and his four wins are one less than Jeff Gordon’s five for most wins at the track.

WINNING FROM THE POLE: In 2008, Johnson won the pole position on the famed Brickyard with a speed of 181.763 mph. He led 71 laps that race and won the event for the second time, becoming the second driver to do so from the pole. There have been four winners of the race from the pole since the NASCAR Cup Series began racing at the Brickyard in 1994 – Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch.

INDY TESTER: Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team spent two days at the Speedway, Indiana, track in April for a Goodyear tire test. Johnson felt as though the test was challenging, yet productive.

JOHNSON AT TEAM CHEVY STAGE: Johnson will be at the Team Chevy stage for a question-and-answer session in the infield of Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 23, at 12 p.m. local time. The appearance is open to the public.
 

2017 Season

  • 9th in standings
  • 19 starts
  • 3 race wins
  • 1 stage win
  • 0 pole positions
  • 3 top-five finishes
  • 7 top-10 finishes
  • 188 laps led
 
 

Career

  • 562 starts
  • 83 wins
  • 35 pole positions
  • 221 top-five finishes
  • 337 top-10 finishes
  • 18,634 laps led
 
 

Track Career 

  • 15 starts
  • 4 wins
  • 1 pole position
  • 6 top-five finishes
  • 7 top-10 finishes
  • 302 laps led
 

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