What Happened to Johnson?

SpeedPagan

SpeedPagan

The iRacing Guru
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
19,354
Points
1,033
So as The Chase comes down to three drivers, Edwards, Stewart & Harvick, one has to wonder what happened to Jimmie Johnson. This will be the first time in five years that he won't be in the Championship winner's circle. So, what happened to Johnson? Was it just a bad year for him, or is the Johnson/Chad dynasty over? We also got to remember that in the off season, Hendrick switched his shops around. Johnson got paired up with Earnhardt Jr. & Gordon got paired up with Martin, maybe that played a role?

Honestly I don't know what happened. I dunno if Johnson just had an off year, and in 2012 he will come back with a vengeance, or if all the other drivers finally figured out his formula for winning The Chase and are finally competitive enough to beat him. You'd think that the fact that in the 2010 season it came down to Homestead, that Johnson would've stepped it up this year, but with only two wins, and knocked out of contention for the Championship early on, apparently not.

Also, how big of a role did the new points system play into this? There's no denying that during The Chase, the points system amplify how damaging a bad finish can be to your points standing.

So, I think it's a mixture of thing that cost Johnson the championship this year.
 
I guess he couldn't keep his ass clenched tight enough till the Chase and that Golden Horseshoe fell out.
 
It sure seemed like he was unhappy on the radio a lot more than I have ever heard out of him before. He sounded like Kurt Busch at times.
 
Yep, JJ's a has been, just like JG and MM and that Earnhardt kid :rolleyes:
 
Bucky Badger said:
Plain and simple, He ran out of talent too many time this year:D
Click to expand...

At least he didn't run out of brains like somebody else did...

Smoke14 said:
It sure seemed like he was unhappy on the radio a lot more than I have ever heard out of him before. He sounded like Kurt Busch at times.
Click to expand...

That's what happens when you get a family. It's work all day and when you get to work.
 
Since Jimmie's other-wife had a kid, Jimmie has had less time for "pipe fitting" with his other other-wife, Chad. That will naturally lead to jealousy, a sense of abandonment and resentment. It's nearly impossible to keep the bedroom out of the boardroom, if ya catch my meaning, if ya get my drift.

Look for Chad to move to the 88 car next year, cause Joonyer is still single and doesn't have the familial responsibilities that JJ now has...
 
robbybee said:
Since Jimmie's other-wife had a kid, Jimmie has had less time for "pipe fitting" with his other other-wife, Chad. That will naturally lead to jealousy, a sense of abandonment and resentment. It's nearly impossible to keep the bedroom out of the boardroom, if ya catch my meaning, if ya get my drift.

Look for Chad to move to the 88 car next year, cause Joonyer is still single and doesn't have the familial responsibilities that JJ now has...
Click to expand...

Joonyer is too busy playing to be on the same level as Chad.

But yes, I do expect this to happen sooner than later.
 
robbybee said:
Look for Chad to move to the 88 car next year, cause Joonyer is still single and doesn't have the familial responsibilities that JJ now has...
Click to expand...

Word is, Jooner offered to move in with Chandra so JJ could focus on racing, and Chad was all for it.
 
MOEJOE said:
Joonyer is too busy playing to be on the same level as Chad.

But yes, I do expect this to happen sooner than later.
Click to expand...

Nah, I think they would have to have multiple bad seasons for Chad to leave the 48 team.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Nah, I think they would have to have multiple bad seasons for Chad to leave the 48 team.
Click to expand...

I used to think that about Gordo and Johnson in the same garage. something about those two being under the same roof just worked.'

Then rick decided to get creative.
 
MOEJOE said:
I used to think that about Gordo and Johnson in the same garage. something about those two being under the same roof just worked.'

Then rick decided to get creative.
Click to expand...

Yea, I think Rick needs to switch the teams back. Maybe Jooyuner bad mojo is rubbing off on the 48 team. ;)
 
We all knew it couldn't last forever, every year the competition gets hungrier and faster.


I think the Hendrick switch was a good move, for whatever reason Gordons career was rejuvenated this year. I also think one roof isn't enough to contain 9 championships in competition with each other. Racers need to be able to nurture their egos, they may be discreet with it, but the big driving ego is still an essential, and one roof isn't enough for two big dog drivers. The Hendrick switch at least offered a better combo or package of two strong contenders for the title.



As far as actual performance Johnson and Chad made more mistakes this year too, which had nothing to do with Gordon. They also seemed to have lost a little speed. In the past when needed they seemed to have an extra gear to use and control matters.


Still the mistakes and lack of consistency hurt them most. In 2010 Hamlin had the speed and extra gear, but Chad/Johnson beat them them with old fashion consistency and and avoiding the errors.


Mechanically speaking they could have still done it this year. I am thinking their still as fast as Edwards, and the difference is that Edwards hasn't made the screw ups.


End of the day 5 in a row was a hell of a run, they should be proud. Take an off season breather and just try again next year.
 
I still believe Gordon's experience on all the tracks had a huge impact on 48 teams success.
 
FenderBumper said:
I still believe Gordon's experience on all the tracks had a huge impact on 48 teams success.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with this. I understand Hendrick's thinking about switching up the shops. He had two great drivers (Gordon & Johnson), one mediocre driver (Earnhardt Jr.) and one driver, TBH pass his prime (Martin). I think Gordon & Johnson being in the same shop helped them rather than hurt them, and I think switching the shops up hurt them.
 
SpeedPagan said:
I'd have to agree with this. I understand Hendrick's thinking about switching up the shops. He had two great drivers (Gordon & Johnson), one mediocre driver (Earnhardt Jr.) and one driver, TBH pass his prime (Martin). I think Gordon & Johnson being in the same shop helped them rather than hurt them, and I think switching the shops up hurt them.
Click to expand...

IMO, Gordon was fed up and wanted a change. Hendrick is too smart to mess with 5 championships unless it's to keep the peace. Gordon sure has been smiling a lot more this year after spending much of last year mad at JJ.
 
FenderBumper said:
Gordon sure has been smiling a lot more this year after spending much of last year mad at JJ.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but Gordon always smiled when Jimmie-Chad was handed those $6 Million Dollar checks, knowing that a signifigant portion of that was going into his own pocket!
 
"What happened to Johnson" is a stupid question. Did you expect him to win the Championship every year until he retired? He still made the Chase. If he was in 20th place I would ask "What happened to Johnson?"
 
KingGlamis said:
"What happened to Johnson" is a stupid question. Did you expect him to win the Championship every year until he retired? He still made the Chase. If he was in 20th place I would ask "What happened to Johnson?"
Click to expand...

Well you gotta admit, throughout the entire season, he seem....lacking in his performance week after week. Going into The Chase, he'd have more than just 1 win and once IN The Chase, he'd start racking up more wins....except for this time.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Well you gotta admit, throughout the entire season, he seem....lacking in his performance week after week. Going into The Chase, he'd have more than just 1 win and once IN The Chase, he'd start racking up more wins....except for this time.
Click to expand...

Yes, by the standards of the last 5 years Jimmie had a bad year. But he still had a MUCH better year than all the drivers that didn't make the Chase. That certainly doesn't mean he is done or washed up. No way.

Dale Sr. got his first Cup in 1980. Didn't get his second until 1986. Also won in 1987. He also won in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994. So Dale's 7 wins came over 14 years. Jimmie got all of his five in five years. Me thinks he has a few more up his sleeve.
 
KingGlamis said:
Yes, by the standards of the last 5 years Jimmie had a bad year. But he still had a MUCH better year than all the drivers that didn't make the Chase. That certainly doesn't mean he is done or washed up. No way.

Dale Sr. got his first Cup in 1980. Didn't get his second until 1986. Also won in 1987. He also won in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994. So Dale's 7 wins came over 14 years. Jimmie got all of his five in five years. Me thinks he has a few more up his sleeve.
Click to expand...

Well I hope so, I'd love to see him get 7 championships, and maybe 8 total.
 
Jimmie is far from done winning championships. He was just resting this season. ;)
 
KingGlamis said:
...Dale Sr. got his first Cup in 1980. Didn't get his second until 1986. Also won in 1987. He also won in 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994. So Dale's 7 wins came over 14 years. Jimmie got all of his five in five years. Me thinks he has a few more up his sleeve.
Click to expand...

You cannot compare Dale Sr. or Richard Petty's Championships to Jimmie Johnson's. The respective point systems are not the same.
 
BobbyFord said:
You cannot compare Dale Sr. or Richard Petty's Championships to Jimmie Johnson's. The respective point systems are not the same.
Click to expand...

True, but I can compare them to Carl Edwards. Jimmie 5 Championships, Carl ZERO. :D
 
SpeedPagan said:
So as The Chase comes down to three drivers, Edwards, Stewart & Harvick, one has to wonder what happened to Jimmie Johnson. This will be the first time in five years that he won't be in the Championship winner's circle. So, what happened to Johnson? Was it just a bad year for him, or is the Johnson/Chad dynasty over? We also got to remember that in the off season, Hendrick switched his shops around. Johnson got paired up with Earnhardt Jr. & Gordon got paired up with Martin, maybe that played a role?

Honestly I don't know what happened. I dunno if Johnson just had an off year, and in 2012 he will come back with a vengeance, or if all the other drivers finally figured out his formula for winning The Chase and are finally competitive enough to beat him. You'd think that the fact that in the 2010 season it came down to Homestead, that Johnson would've stepped it up this year, but with only two wins, and knocked out of contention for the Championship early on, apparently not.

Also, how big of a role did the new points system play into this? There's no denying that during The Chase, the points system amplify how damaging a bad finish can be to your points standing.

So, I think it's a mixture of thing that cost Johnson the championship this year.
Click to expand...

Plain and simple NA$CAR changed the chase and the point system.
 
There comes a time when a specific driver's reign begins to come to an end. I think that's what we're seeing. Just like we watched it happen to Jeff Gordon. Jimmie will still be competitive, just not dominant.
 
BobbyFord said:
There comes a time when a specific driver's reign begins to come to an end. I think that's what we're seeing. Just like we watched it happen to Jeff Gordon. Jimmie will still be competitive, just not dominant.
Click to expand...

yep
 
KingGlamis said:
True, but I can compare them to Carl Edwards. Jimmie 5 Championships, Carl ZERO. :D
Click to expand...

Jimmie's 55 wins are nice too. :)

BobbyFord said:
You should take that act out on the road; you're a riot.
Click to expand...

You're just Jealous, admit it. :mad:

BobbyFord said:
There comes a time when a specific driver's reign begins to come to an end. I think that's what we're seeing. Just like we watched it happen to Jeff Gordon. Jimmie will still be competitive, just not dominant.
Click to expand...

Maybe not dominant, but you cannot say he's all washed up until his record changes a quite a bit. If he finishes outside the top 5, it will be the first time in his career that happens. Maybe Glamis can take that one on the road too.

SlowNeasy said:
yep
Click to expand...

Jealous as well, live with the greatness of the Johnson, relish in the glory.... :owquitit:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom