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Johnson Blows After Leading in Speed
Written by: Ben Blake   http://www.racer.com
03/29/2003
 
SPEEDtv.com - The Online Motorsports Authority ยป More Photos

As seemed fitting on what has been a brutal weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson led final practice Saturday, then limped in with a blown engine near the end of the session. As a result of the engine change, Johnson, who qualified fourth in Friday's time trials, will have to drop to the rear at the start of Sunday's Samsung/Radio Shack 500.

Practice, qualifying, and Saturday's Busch Series preliminary have been scarred by mischance, mayhem and controversy, casting a cloud of foreboding over Sunday's main event at NASCAR's fastest track.

In addition to Johnson, three other drivers will turn tail after engine changes, including No. 19
Todd Bodine, No. 25 Brett Bodine, and No. 36 Sterling Marlin.

Johnson made his best race-trim lap in 28.574sec (188.983mph), then coasted to the garage without power with 15 minutes to go.

"It's not that you turn an overabundance of rpms here, but you do sustain a lot of rpms, so it can be a tough deal," Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus said, noting that he did not know exactly what broke.

Overall, however, the four Hendrick cars showed significant speed in the final warm-ups, with Terry Labonte and Joe Nemechek near the top in both 45min sessions. Ryan Newman, Jerry Nadeau, pole-winner Bobby Labonte and Bill Elliott also showed power.