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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The final day of Jimmie Johnson's so-far successful preseason Nextel Cup test session at Daytona International Speedway got off to rough start Thursday.
Johnson, whose No. 48 Chevrolet was just the second car on the track Thursday morning, spun in Turn 3 and hit the wall, doing extensive damage to the front end of the car.
Johnson was unhurt.
The car, however, was expected to be Johnson's entry for the Feb. 15 Daytona 500 and had been his fastest during this week's test.
"Maybe the track's just wet, especially in the shadows," Johnson said. "We run the top all the way around here the first two laps basically and maybe it was still wet up there.
"Without a doubt there was something on the track."
Casey Mears was the first car on the track, starting just before 9 a.m. Eastern. He also experienced problems in Turn 3.
"I went through there the first time and thought there was something on the track, but it could have been possible it was my car," Mears said.
"The second time I went through the turn, I took it easy and it was OK. Then, Jimmie went in there and went into the wall."
Johnson said losing car will likely mean his team will not chance participating in Thursday afternoon's scheduled drafting practice. They don't want to risk damaging both cars.
Johnson has been at or near the top of the speed chart since this week's test started Tuesday.
Johnson, whose No. 48 Chevrolet was just the second car on the track Thursday morning, spun in Turn 3 and hit the wall, doing extensive damage to the front end of the car.
Johnson was unhurt.
The car, however, was expected to be Johnson's entry for the Feb. 15 Daytona 500 and had been his fastest during this week's test.
"Maybe the track's just wet, especially in the shadows," Johnson said. "We run the top all the way around here the first two laps basically and maybe it was still wet up there.
"Without a doubt there was something on the track."
Casey Mears was the first car on the track, starting just before 9 a.m. Eastern. He also experienced problems in Turn 3.
"I went through there the first time and thought there was something on the track, but it could have been possible it was my car," Mears said.
"The second time I went through the turn, I took it easy and it was OK. Then, Jimmie went in there and went into the wall."
Johnson said losing car will likely mean his team will not chance participating in Thursday afternoon's scheduled drafting practice. They don't want to risk damaging both cars.
Johnson has been at or near the top of the speed chart since this week's test started Tuesday.
