Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Jimmie Johnson goes for fifth Brickyard win

Johnson is 8/1 to win for fifth time at Indy on Sunday.
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
“Based on the test session, one thing I forgot from only going there once a year is how temperature-sensitive that racetrack really is. The morning sessions opened up with a ton of grip and the car was pretty comfortable. That afternoon once the heat of the day set in it got really, really tricky. With a three o’clock start time I think that will allow for the track to cool down and it will be a little more forgiving. Indy has four distinct and unique corners. I will be happy with myself to get three of the four corners right each lap – it’s a very, very challenging track. Lots of concentration required. It sure does feel good when you win there. It’s a celebration like no other."

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Red Vest Chevrolet SS, will be available to members of the media on Friday, July 22, at 12:30 p.m. ET in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center.


RED VEST PAINT SCHEME FOR THE BRICKYARD
: To celebrate Lowe’s 285,000 employees who help drive the business every day, Jimmie Johnson will be running the Lowe’s Red Vest Chevrolet SS this weekend at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This is the third consecutive year the No. 48 car will feature a red paint scheme after debuting in 2014, when Johnson drove it to Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway. The signature red vests Lowe’s employees wear symbolize the outstanding service they provide customers each and every day.

SERIES-HIGH DRIVER RATING
: According to NASCAR's loop data statistics, Johnson has the series-best driver rating at Indianapolis with a score of 106.5 during the past 10 races at the track. 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. Johnson’s average finish at Indianapolis is 15.4.

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. Johnson’s latest win at the Brickyard was in 2012. Johnson’s four wins are one less than Jeff Gordon’s five for most wins at the track.

RED-VESTED GARAGE DECOR
: No. 48 team crew chief Chad Knaus takes full advantage of the ample garage stall space at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Normally, the No. 48 team works out of its transporter, but this weekend it will have a custom-designed, Lowe’s-sponsored garage setup complete with individual work stations for the engineers and other crew members.

INDY TESTER
: Johnson, Knaus and the No. 48 team spent two days at the Speedway, Indiana, track on July 12 and 13 testing the lower downforce package for 2016. Out of the nine teams testing, Johnson’s Lowe’s Chevrolet was fastest, unofficially, during day one’s morning session, and had the top overall speed at the close of the second day as well.

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 24, at 12:05 p.m. local time. This appearance is open to the public.

JIMMIE JOHNSON WELLNESS CHALLENGE TRIATHLON:
The second event in the Jimmie Johnson Wellness Challenge is just one week away. The Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon will take place in Waxhaw, North Carolina, on July 26. To enter click here: http://jimmiejohnsontri.racesonline.com/.

THE LINEMAKERS' MICAH ROBERTS ON JOHNSON:

Jimmie JOHNSON 8/1 - He's a four-time winner, but 14 races have passed since he won his second race of the season at Fontana in March. His case to win this week stems from an outstanding Brickyard test session where he was fastest on the last of the two days. We can also look at his three teammates at Pocono who finished within the top-six. There's also the Chevrolet effect going for him where the guys in bow-ties have won 16 of the 22 Brickyard races, which included 12 straight wins before Toyota won last year.

 

2016 Season

  • 9th in standings
  • 19 starts
  • 2 wins
  • 1 pole position
  • 6 top-five finishes
  • 7 top-10 finishes
  • 229 laps led
 
 

Career

  • 526 starts
  • 77 wins
  • 35 pole positions
  • 213 top-five finishes
  • 321 top-10 finishes
  • 17,938 laps led
 
 

Track Career 

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

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