NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 19, 2012
JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET, met with media and discussed his time at Kansas, what he expects to see during Sunday’s race, his qualifying effort, and going to Martinsville next weekend. Full Transcript:
ON HIS QUALIFYING LAP:
“I was as brave as I could be. We ran a decent lap, but it’s real tight from where I am up to the top. Looking back on it, I don’t know what to really ask for because it was a very strong lap. The last two days have been good for our Lowe’s Chevy. Good speed in race trim and qualifying trim. I think that the conversation has been about the track and the resurface and I think they’ve done a nice job with the track and I’m hopeful, like everyone else, that we get some warmer temperatures so we start moving up the race track and widen out the lane. We know there’s more up grip up there with that extra banking. We just haven’t had a need to go there yet and I think a race plus a race under sunny conditions will allow us to do that.”
THE CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH DIFFERENT ON SUNDAY. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL PLAY OUT WITH THE REPAVING AND RECONFIGURATION OF THE TRACK?
“It’s going to be a big guessing game. Tire wear isn’t all that high. When the track was green, we did see some tire wear so maybe as we’re starting to work in the top lane we’ll need to put four on for the first half of the race, but I would have to assume that two tires and good fuel mileage are going to be awfully important.”
YOU ARE GOING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SO MANY UNKNOWNS AT THIS TRACK, IS THIS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A WILD CARD AS WELL? THERE ARE SO MANY UNKNOWNS PLUS THE WEATHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT “Yeah, it is tough to work on a plan, but I think that the No. 48 has always adjusted well and I think our experience under pressure situations and at different race tracks helps us. So we welcome the change and the excitement. It’s been a fun couple of days and I’m looking forward to tomorrow and Sunday as well. I’m having a lot of fun in this championship battle. This has been a very competitive chase. I’m enjoying racing with the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin) and the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski) week in and week out, and I’m looking forward to pouring the pressure on now.”
ON GOING TO MARTINSVILLE
“I feel good. I really do. The track in practice and qualifying; the track isn’t what we race. If anything, we get a little frustrated through practice and then our qualifying effort usually isn’t what we want. But when they drop the green flag, and we are racing, we usually go the right direction and I know it’s been a good track for us. It’s also good for the No. 24 (Jeff Gordon) and the No. 11 (Denny Hamlin); the No. 29 (Kevin Harvick) should be strong there too, but he’s a bit back in points and I guess the No. 24 is too; but there’s maybe a chance to pick some (points) up on the No. 2 (Brad Keselowski). I’m not sure what his record is there but I don’t remember seeing him up front a lot so there might be a good opportunity, but at the same time I don’t want to count those guys out. They’ve shown up each and every weekend and shown a lot of speed in a lot of situations. I’m excited for it, but I know a couple of other guys are too.”
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