February 26, 2010
NASCAR- Jimmie Johnson Wins at Fontana in the Second Date of the Sprint Cup
By Stephen Lars
Jimmie Johnson, defending champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, took a surprise victory in the Auto Club 500, the second race of the season. The event took place at the Auto Club Speedway Circuit in Fontana this past weekend.
Johnson had an irregular performance in the first trial, ending in 35th place after starting at third on the grid. The driver recovered and showed that he was willing, and more than able, to take a fifth consecutive title in the top flight of the NASCAR series.
Johnson exited the race in third place, and from there, he was firm and constant, striving to keep up with the group that was leading the race.
The competition began with Jamie McMurray, winner on the first date, on the pole, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya. But McMurray’s luck didn’t last long; he couldn’t even lead the first lap. Montoya quickly surpassed him, getting ahead of the race for the next 30 laps of the scheduled 250.
Despite the strong lead, the Colombian driver eventually lost his position after his car began to suffer from mechanical problems. Montoya dropped back to 37th place.
From that moment on, the competition became a real challenge. There were clashes between the majority of the pilots, creating a great spectacle as the command of the race changed 26 times.
While at its peak, the competition was slowed due to several yellow flags, which were raised as a result of the mechanical problems experienced by several cars. The tempo of the race was uneven, changing tempestuously.
As the challenge progressed, heavy rain seemed imminent. The pilots took advantage of the yellow flags to get into the pit areas, change tires, and make necessary adjustments to their cars.
Always consistent and in firm control of his car, Johnson drove at a very steady pace without pulling away from the top positions. The driver of the #48 Chevrolet Impala knew how to resist both those before and behind him, balancing a remarkable strategy that kept him at an even keel.
Near the end of the race, the threat of the oncoming storm forced several more cars to enter the pits and change their tires for replacements more appropriate for the weather conditions.
Of those drivers, it was Johnson who made the tire change the quickest and left the garage first, only a few seconds before the final yellow flag went up. Upon entering the track, the four-time champion placed himself at the head of the race, followed closely by Kevin Harvick.
Harvick applied a great deal of pressure on Johnson, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s skills were superior. The final laps were very intense, as Johnson and Harvick remained even, but the driver of the #29 Chevy Nova finally hit the wall and lost distance, allowing Johnson to advance unabated and cross the finish line in first place.
The podium was completed by Kevin Harvick in second and Jeff Burton in third.
This is Johnson’s 48th triumph as a career professional driver in the Sprint Series. The victory pushed Johnson into 12th of the driver’s standings with a total of 253 points.
About the Author
Stephen Lars has been a prominent writer on daily NASCAR races; sports news and the sportsbook industry for many exceptional sport web sites. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.