Subscibe to our feedJohnson Finishes 12th at Watkins Glen
Jimmie Johnson finished 12th in Monday’s rain-delayed Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International.
The Lowe’s machine started on the front row after Johnson earned his first pole position of the season and his first pole at the 2.45-mile road course.
Click here to see photos from the Heluva Good! 200 at Watkins Glen
When the green flag waved signaling the start of the 90-lap race, Johnson immediately began reporting a loose race car. The team expected the track to tighten up but never found the right combination.
Despite fighting the free condition, Johnson was able to remain in the top three for most of the event, until a spin in Turn 1 on Lap 54. Johnson did not sustain any damage in the spin. The incident occurred during a round of green-flag pit stops, and Johnson immediately brought the Lowe’s Impala SS to pit road for service, returning to the track 13th.
While he was able to avoid all other accidents, including a violent three-car pileup that resulted in a 20-minute red flag period, Johnson was never able to make a charge to the front in the closing 25 laps.
“Truthfully as the day went on we just got looser and looser,” explained Johnson. “We anticipated the track tightening up and coming to us and it just kind of went the other way. (We) spun out down in (turn) one and that didn’t help us any. I came to the braking zone and could see dirt and grass blowing around and though, ‘Oh man, here I go.’ And sure enough, around I went.”
“But we’re getting smarter and learning a lot,” continued Johnson. “Not the performance we wanted today but we fought really hard and got our first pole, so we have to look at the bright spots and just move forward.”
The 12th-place result allowed the three-time Champion to remain second in the Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, now 260 behind leader and race winner Tony Stewart.
The series will travel to Michigan International Speedway for this Sunday’s race. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 1 p.m. ET.