Subscibe to our feedJohnson Comes from Three Laps Down to Finish 13th at Pocono
After coming back from a three-lap deficit in Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race, Jimmie Johnson gained 12 positions in the final 13 laps to cross the finish line 13th.
Johnson started the 200-lap Pocono Raceway event second and led the first 22 laps before dropping to third. He remained in the top three until Lap 98, when he came down pit road for four tires while many others opted for two.
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Johnson restarted 19th on Lap 102 but fewer than three laps later reported to the team that he had no power. He brought the Lowe’s Impala SS down pit road where the 48 team made a quick fix under the hood and sent Johnson back to the track on the lead lap.
But the problem on the car wasn’t fixed and Johnson began running dangerously close to NASCAR’s minimum speed requirement, falling as low as 38th on the leader board.
Despite losing three laps to the leader, because there were no cars one lap down, Johnson continued to get the “Lucky Dog” award as yellow flags waved, allowing crew chief Chad Knaus and team to work under the hood as they gained laps back.
During a lengthy caution period with around 50 laps remaining, the team replaced several things under the hood of the Lowe’s machine and Johnson took off.
Thanks to a few quick cautions, Johnson moved back to the lead lap on Lap 174. On Lap 180, Johnson avoided a six-car accident and moved to 25th, where he restarted on Lap 187 before making his final charge to the front.
The 13th-place result allowed Johnson to remain second in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, 197 behind leader Tony Stewart.
The series will go road-course racing next weekend at Watkins Glen International. The race will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 1 p.m. ET.