CUP: Johnson On Track In Week 2

Sprint Cup

CUP: Johnson On Track In Week 2

Four time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson starts his quest...

Mike Hembree | Posted February 21, 2010 Fontana, CA

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Lights! Camera! Action! The Drive For Five is officially underway.

RESULTS: Auto Club 500

For those who thought Jimmie Johnson might be a tad vulnerable after a sour start to the season in the Daytona 500, it’s time for some rethinking. Johnson stormed back in style Sunday in the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway, outgunning Kevin Harvick in the final few miles to win the second race of the Sprint Cup season.

To make the day even more significant as to how it might relate to future weeks, Johnson benefited from some of the luck that often seems to slide his way. The caution flag flew as he was pitting with 27 laps to go, but he returned to the track just in front of leader Jeff Burton and then moved into first place when the rest of the lead pack pitted during the caution period.

From near-disaster to the lead, it was a quick switch.

"I figured if things cycled around, we were going to be in good shape, and there is no doubt that situation gave us the race win today,” Johnson said of the caution. “We got a little off probably about two-thirds through the race, and we were trying to get things right. We had the car much better but had lost track position and had some really fast cars to deal with.

“The gift we got by being on pit road – I took advantage and we got this Kobalt Tools Chevrolet running good. I knew the No. 29 (Harvick) was going to be tough, and he certainly caught me there. Then he got in the wall off of turn four or something there, and that slowed him down. But it was just a great day all-in-all and a lot of good racing from where I was sitting.”

Johnson stayed in front the rest of the way after the caution period.

Johnson led 77 laps in the early part of the race but dropped back in the middle portion.

“I think, with this tire, we have been a little off because the car turns so well with the larger stagger we had with the old tire,” he said. “All week long, we have been trying to get the ‘tight’ out of the race car. … We got it much better at the end.”

The victory was the California native’s fifth at Auto Club Speedway and his second in a row.

Crew chief Chad Knaus said he had confidence in Johnson in the final laps as Harvick closed in.

“I knew Jimmie wasn’t going to put the car in any danger and put ourselves in a position where we would crash,” he said. “Even though it isn’t time to be points racing, you want to start to develop a foundation, and Jimmie knew that. He was driving the car where he felt comfortable with it and wasn’t going to step out, and that in turn was making Harvick drive a little overly aggressive.

“He got in the wall, and the rest is history.”

RESULTS: Auto Club 500

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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Mike Hembree

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