JIMMIE JOHNSON: A CUT ABOVE
Jimmie Johnson has an answer for anyone challenging his dominance in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series.
The three-time reigning champion in the series just needs to raise his left hand and pretend to be showing off his bandaged middle finger.
Off-seasons have been more dangerous for him than being on a racetrack.
He had just awakened from a nap Sunday during his break in the 24 Hours of Daytona (officially the Rolex 24) when a team assistant came to tell him it was his turn to drive in the endurance race.
In a hurry to make a hole in his uniform to insert a cooling tube, Johnson grabbed a knife and tried to cut an opening into the fabric.
He said the knife pierced through the uniform and sliced his finger, which required sutures to close.
"It got me pretty good," Johnson told The Associated Press. "Cut right through the fabric to where my finger was on the other side."
Johnson and teammates Jimmy Vasser, Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney finished seventh in their class for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing.
Johnson learns by life experiences.
Two years ago, he learned that when riding in a golf cart it’s best to be in a seat instead of on its roof. Johnson broke his left wrist when he flew off a golf cart while thinking he was surfing near his hometown of El Cajon, Calif.
ROBBY DOES IT ON DIRT
Robby Gordon is good on road courses, whether paved or not.
The veteran Cup driver is enjoying an awesome year with a third-place finish in the Dakar road rally in South America and the overall title he won Sunday in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, about 100 miles from Las Vegas.
Gordon finished first in Sunday’s second day of racing to post his eighth SCORE Trophy-Truck win and first since the 2006 Baja 1000.
ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN AT IRWINDALE
Matt Kobyluck emerged from a wild three-way battle with Joey Logano and Peyton Sellers on Saturday night to become the first two-time winner of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif.
Logano, set to begin his first full season in the Cup series, slid up into Sellers while going for the lead in Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag.
Kobyluck, running third, came across the finish line a nose behind Logano, but Logano was penalized for rough driving, giving Kobyluck the victory.
Las Vegan Alex Haase, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, finished 20th out of 40 cars when he dropped out with an engine failure on the 223rd of 250 laps.
In a preliminary race, Southern Nevadan Scott Gafforini finished fourth in the 75-lap Late Models contest.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI TO HAVE DANICA’S EAR
Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, will be the strategist for driver Danica Patrick this year in the IndyCar Series.
Andretti replaces Kyle Moyer, who will return to call races for Marco Andretti, Michael’s son.
So much for the value of fatherly advice.
The three-time reigning champion in the series just needs to raise his left hand and pretend to be showing off his bandaged middle finger.
Off-seasons have been more dangerous for him than being on a racetrack.
He had just awakened from a nap Sunday during his break in the 24 Hours of Daytona (officially the Rolex 24) when a team assistant came to tell him it was his turn to drive in the endurance race.
In a hurry to make a hole in his uniform to insert a cooling tube, Johnson grabbed a knife and tried to cut an opening into the fabric.
He said the knife pierced through the uniform and sliced his finger, which required sutures to close.
"It got me pretty good," Johnson told The Associated Press. "Cut right through the fabric to where my finger was on the other side."
Johnson and teammates Jimmy Vasser, Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney finished seventh in their class for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing.
Johnson learns by life experiences.
Two years ago, he learned that when riding in a golf cart it’s best to be in a seat instead of on its roof. Johnson broke his left wrist when he flew off a golf cart while thinking he was surfing near his hometown of El Cajon, Calif.
ROBBY DOES IT ON DIRT
Robby Gordon is good on road courses, whether paved or not.
The veteran Cup driver is enjoying an awesome year with a third-place finish in the Dakar road rally in South America and the overall title he won Sunday in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, about 100 miles from Las Vegas.
Gordon finished first in Sunday’s second day of racing to post his eighth SCORE Trophy-Truck win and first since the 2006 Baja 1000.
ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN AT IRWINDALE
Matt Kobyluck emerged from a wild three-way battle with Joey Logano and Peyton Sellers on Saturday night to become the first two-time winner of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif.
Logano, set to begin his first full season in the Cup series, slid up into Sellers while going for the lead in Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag.
Kobyluck, running third, came across the finish line a nose behind Logano, but Logano was penalized for rough driving, giving Kobyluck the victory.
Las Vegan Alex Haase, driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, finished 20th out of 40 cars when he dropped out with an engine failure on the 223rd of 250 laps.
In a preliminary race, Southern Nevadan Scott Gafforini finished fourth in the 75-lap Late Models contest.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI TO HAVE DANICA’S EAR
Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, will be the strategist for driver Danica Patrick this year in the IndyCar Series.
Andretti replaces Kyle Moyer, who will return to call races for Marco Andretti, Michael’s son.
So much for the value of fatherly advice.
This entry was posted on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 at 01:38 PM
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