Post by dalejrfan on Mar 27, 2006 2:11:03 GMT -5
Gee, it's great to be back, NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus has to be thinking
BRISTOL, Tenn. - Chad Knaus' return to the top of driver Jimmie Johnson's pit box after a four-race suspension didn't have quite the outcome either hoped.
Before Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was one lap old, Johnson's left-front tire starting going down on his No. 48 Chevrolet. He was forced to pit under green and fell two laps down.
Even back up to speed, Johnson had a tough day, slamming the wall hard off one corner and doing serious right-side damage. After several stops for repairs, Johnson ended up 30th, 13 laps down.
Johnson fell from first to third in points, trailing new leader Matt Kenseth by 19 points.
"That kind of stuff happens at these race tracks. It's a tough race track," Knaus said. "It's tough racing even if everything is going well for you.
"Jimmie will be fine and we'll go to Martinsville and go after them there."
Johnson started the season with wins at Daytona and Las Vegas. He finished second at California and sixth last week at Atlanta.
Said Johnson: "Man, before we hit the start of the race we had a flat tire. It was just a tough day for us."
BRISTOL, Tenn. - Chad Knaus' return to the top of driver Jimmie Johnson's pit box after a four-race suspension didn't have quite the outcome either hoped.
Before Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was one lap old, Johnson's left-front tire starting going down on his No. 48 Chevrolet. He was forced to pit under green and fell two laps down.
Even back up to speed, Johnson had a tough day, slamming the wall hard off one corner and doing serious right-side damage. After several stops for repairs, Johnson ended up 30th, 13 laps down.
Johnson fell from first to third in points, trailing new leader Matt Kenseth by 19 points.
"That kind of stuff happens at these race tracks. It's a tough race track," Knaus said. "It's tough racing even if everything is going well for you.
"Jimmie will be fine and we'll go to Martinsville and go after them there."
Johnson started the season with wins at Daytona and Las Vegas. He finished second at California and sixth last week at Atlanta.
Said Johnson: "Man, before we hit the start of the race we had a flat tire. It was just a tough day for us."