Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Johnson said there was nothing wrong with his No. 48 Chevrolet, either, so the late-race struggle was a head-scratcher.

“It’s hard to believe that from the time the caution came out to when we took the green again – had to be five, 10 minutes – that the track could change that much,” Johnson said. “We didn’t make any adjustments to the car. The only thing that it could possibly still be is that we had a bad set of left-side tires on the car because the left sides stayed on even for that final run.”

Johnson and Knaus look to bounce back this weekend at the 2-mile California track, where Johnson has won three times, including two of the last four races.

Johnson is also going for his third consecutive victory in California’s second race and his car carries Jimmie Johnson Foundation logos this weekend.

That’s enough to put more pressure on him, but Johnson isn’t worried.

“I could certainly let different aspects of this weekend creep into my mind and put more pressure on me,” Johnson said. “But I’ve always done a good job of trying to keep it simple and look at it as another race. It’s one of 10 [in the Chase]. I need to go out and still run practice, get the car right, qualify, practice again and do my best job on Sunday.

“Hopefully, my experience over the years can help keep it simple and help my mind stay focused on the things that are really important that make a difference and not pay attention to it being hometown track, a track we’ve won at, a good race for us in the Chase [and] the foundation is on the side of the car.”

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