(By Sarah Farlee Managing Editor, CupScene.com)
Posted: Sunday,May 30th, 2010
Concord, N.C. - It was the house Jimmie Johnson built with six wins, but he may not feel welcome anymore after a 36th place finish in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Johnson’s first incident of the night occurred early when the car rubbed the wall and slid down the track, forcing Denny Hamlin into the infield grass to avoid contact.
“That first one was just a racing deal,” said Johnson. “I got in the fence and did some damage and we were trying to recover from that and I was trying to run from the leader, be respectful of the leader, and I had the leader on my tail.”
CONCORD, NC - MAY 30: Crew members for the #48 Lowe's Memorial Day Tribute Chevrolet work to repair damage after the car was involved in an incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 30, 2010 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Johnson would pit for adjustment, but run toward the back of the pack until a second incident sent the four-time champion spinning in turn two and hitting the inside wall – crushing the front of the car.
“We made some big adjustments to the car and basically adjusted it to free it up there and I just spun out off turn two,” said Johnson.
Johnson’s season has been anything but perfect, following the three wins early in 2010 at Fontana, Las Vegas and Bristol.
“We’re just racing,” said Johnson. “It comes with the territory.”
The territory is unfamiliar for the four-time champion, but Johnson says he takes the blame for the crash. Johnson isn’t worried because performance is there.
“We’ve been running well,” Johnson said. “But we’ve made some mistakes”
“I guess I’ll take the blame for that one and I go on to next week,” Johnson added.
Johnson returned to the track with a new front end, 33 laps down, Johnson drops to seventh in the Sprint Cup point’s standings 204 behind leader Kevin Harvick.
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