JOLIET, Ill. – A good day at Chicagoland Speedway for Jimmie Johnson quickly went bad in Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400.
Unloading with one of the strongest cars in months, Johnson started eighth after qualifying was canceled on Friday because of rain but didn’t waste any time maneuvering his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet to the front.
Sitting inside the top-five when the first caution waved on Lap 49 for debris, Johnson won the race off pit road and inherited the lead where he remained for much of the race.
In a battle with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the win, Johnson made his final pit stop on Lap 234, but was busted by NASCAR for speeding where he had to serve a pass-thru penalty. The unexpected trip on pit road cost the Hendrick Motorsports team valuable seconds on the track, leaving Johnson 18th after the penalty and at the tail end of the lead lap.
When the caution came out with three laps to go, Johnson still on the lead lap came to pit road for tires and fuel, but found himself only getting back to 12th when the checkered flag waved.
“Very proud of this Lowe’s team, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports,” said Johnson. “We are digging. I’m just… I just can’t believe I got in trouble down there leaving the pits. I feel terrible for these guys. It should have been a top five day, but I will back down pit road even more and try not to make that mistake. Hats off to the team for our fast Lowe’s Chevrolet, I just screwed up.”
Despite the rare mistake, the six-time Sprint Cup champion vows to recover with two races remaining before the first Chase elimination at Dover International Speedway on Oct. 2.
“I’m making adjustments and I was dumbfounded that happened,” added Johnson. “You can’t argue it. Maybe a mistake on our part somewhere, definitely a mistake on my side, but I by no way shape or form thought that I was speeding. I was probably the slowest down pit road all day just to try to avoid it and got nailed.
“I will soak on it tonight and come back next week and be at 100 percent again and get ready to take this Lowe’s car to Victory Lane.”
Adding insult to injury, Johnson’s car failed post-race LIS (Laser Inspection Station), but not to encumbered status level. Still, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus could face a penalty from NASCAR which could be announced as early as Tuesday or Wednesday. Typically, a post-race infraction at the lowest level could mean the loss of at least 10 championship points.
Exiting Chicagoland, Johnson was eighth in the Chase standings, nine points ahead of 12th place Tony Stewart in the final cutoff position.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
