Car switch forces Johnson to start Lifelong 400 from back row
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By Terry Blount
ESPN.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- One tiny mistake in Happy Hour Saturday moved Jimmie Johnson from the pole to the back row for Sunday's Lifelock 400.
Johnson spun and brushed the wall in the final practice session at Kansas Speedway, damaging the left front quarter panel and hood on his No. 48 Chevrolet.
The team immediately unloaded the back-up car, but switching cars means Johnson must give up his pole position and start the race at the back of the field.
Johnson spent the final 30 minutes of Happy Hour getting laps in his back-up car. Johnson, the defending Nextel Cup champion, ranks third in the Chase, only four points behind leader Jeff Gordon.
Scott Riggs, who qualified third, will move up to the inside of Row 1 for the start of Sunday's race. Positions change by lines when a driver drops to the back of the field before the green flag.
Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
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By Terry Blount
ESPN.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- One tiny mistake in Happy Hour Saturday moved Jimmie Johnson from the pole to the back row for Sunday's Lifelock 400.
Johnson spun and brushed the wall in the final practice session at Kansas Speedway, damaging the left front quarter panel and hood on his No. 48 Chevrolet.
The team immediately unloaded the back-up car, but switching cars means Johnson must give up his pole position and start the race at the back of the field.
Johnson spent the final 30 minutes of Happy Hour getting laps in his back-up car. Johnson, the defending Nextel Cup champion, ranks third in the Chase, only four points behind leader Jeff Gordon.
Scott Riggs, who qualified third, will move up to the inside of Row 1 for the start of Sunday's race. Positions change by lines when a driver drops to the back of the field before the green flag.
Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
