Jimmie Johnson Day in San Diego
It was Jimmie Johnson Day in San Diego Wednesday. Johnson, 31, is the first driver in any of the speed sports named athlete of the year in San Diego. The celebration was complete with proclamations from Mayor Jerry Sanders and the County Board of Supervisors and even a message from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Enshrined in the city’s Hall of Champions in Balboa Park, Johnson, who was born in nearby El Cajon, fielded questions from a handful of writers and made his feelings crystal clear. During the questioning, Johnson fielded questions about his personality, the Car of Tomorrow and the recent changes to the Chase format.
“I’m still trying to get over the Chase in general, and now we’ve got a change in the Chase,” Johnson said. “I’m disappointed, because it takes away from the first 26 races. All you’ve got to do is be in the top 12, and you’ve got some crazy seeding based on wins, and I’m not sure that format’s going to inspire anybody to win. We’re always trying to win as it is.
“I don’t know how it’s going to make for a better show. That’s been a concern of mine all along. I think there needs to be more separation in the points, and in my opinion, they needed to have a bigger break when you got into the Chase. All that’s built on the fact that we have 26 races, and I think there should be more credit given to a team over those 26 races, and it’s kind of going the other way now. It’s less credit for what you accomplish during the season.
Despite what Jimmie feels about the changes to the Chase format, expect to see him battling in the Chase again this year as he tries to accomplish a repeat performance of last year.
Till the next Pit Stop…..
NASCAR, Jimmie Johnson, San Diego, The Chase, Car of Tomorrow
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