Chat Transcript: Jimmie Johnson

April 3, 2001
9:50 AM EDT (1350 GMT)

Host: Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Jimmie Johnson!

Jimmie_Johnson Thank you for signing on tonight and joining my chat. I appreciate your support and I think we have some wins coming soon!

Jimmie Johnson finished eighth at Texas and fourth at Bristol.

Host: wardfan22 How did you feel about your performance in Texas?

Jimmie_Johnson I was disappointed with myself in qualifying. I was trying to put in a smooth lap and it hurt me. I wish that our 2-tire gamble had worked for us at the end, but I am definitely happy with the finish. Host: Question from: Milo Jimmie, being under contract to drive for Rick Hendrick next year in Winston Cup, will there be a new team for you next year?

Jimmie_Johnson Yes, it will be a 4th team added to Hendrick Motorsports, working side-by-side with Robbie Loomis and Jeff Gordon. They are calling it one team to supply two racecars. Over there right now they have three teams and three different ideas so it is hard to directly compare notes.

Host: Question from: Big Who is going to be your Winston Cup sponsor and how much involvement is Jeff Gordon going to have in your Winston Cup program?

Jimmie_Johnson Jeff Gordon's involvement will be heavy. He is a part owner in it, just like the #24 car. He is looking forward to the business challenges of being a team owner, so he is going to be heavily involved on that side also. He is also working hard with me to help make me a better driver and build a support system for me. The sponsor is still being worked on at this time. We are talking to a few different people but nothing has been pinpointed yet.

Host: Question from: fordfan Jimmie, how has the competition been this year? Do you feel like there is more competition since Greg Biffle has joined the series?

Jimmie_Johnson Definitely. Biffle is a tough competitor and it has been a scrambled for all of us with the new motor packages and tires. The cream has risen to the top and a majority of the people are still there. It has just been a challenge with the new motor package and tire.

Host: Question from: TNjim Jimmie, what is your take on Cup guys racing in the Busch series?

Jimmie_Johnson It is a catch-22. Last year when there were 15 cars that went on time, you were at a risk to miss the race. Some of the fondest memories I have are when I am out there racing with the Winston Cup drivers, like Jeff Burton and Mark Martin. It is a catch-22 thought because it helps you and hurts you at different times.

Host: Question from: Guest2 How do you keep your energy level up during a race?

Jimmie_Johnson I have never had to worry about that. There is so much going on and your adrenaline is pumping so much, you don't think about it. In desert races, when I did it for like 20 hours, it was different, but these 3-hour races don't bother me.

Host: Question from: Teressa: Jimmie, is there anything special you like to do to prepare for a race?

Jimmie_Johnson I don't have a set ritual. If I see a penny and it is heads-up, I will pick it up. If it is tales, I will kick it until it turns over. Haha I used to have a pair of boxer shorts I used in off road racing, but it has been inconsistent in my NASCAR races so I haven't really used that pair.

Host: Question from: Teressa: Jimmie, do you take anything on the road to remind you of home?

Jimmie_Johnson No, not really. My dad is at the races and my girlfriend travels to most of them with me, so home is usually following me around.

Host: Question from: Charlene: Jimmie, you were my favorite driver in ASA. Do you miss those guys?

Jimmie_Johnson Definitely. All of ASA was like a big family. Everyone knew each other and everyone cared for each other. I really miss banging fenders with all those guys.

Host: What are your thoughts on the next race in Nashville?

Jimmie_Johnson Everybody wants to go there and win that Gibson guitar as a trophy. It is a new track for us, but I have fond memories of the half-mile track there. I hear it is real nice and I am looking forward to trying to bring that guitar home. Then I will have to take some lessons!

Host: Question from: GordonFan: Jimmie, have you been able to test a Cup car yet?

Jimmie_Johnson No, we tried to last winter in Kentucky but we got snowed out! Now that I am involved in the team and a number has been created for me, NASCAR has restricted my testing. We are going to test the tracks that I will be racing later this year, when we figure that out.

Host: Question from: pitmom17: What new track are you most excited to be going to?

Jimmie_Johnson I pretty much like them all. I love going to Bristol. The night race there is going to be awesome. I like the ones I run well at. I didn't really like Myrtle Beach that much, but we aren't going back there this year.

Host: Question from: jg8471 Jimmie, do you have an official web site we fans can go to?

Jimmie_Johnson Yes, it is www.jimmiejohnson.com. We put pictures up after every race and you can soon buy apparel there, too. My appearance schedule is up there and we also post our team press releases before and after the events. Anything really media related gets up there.

Host: Question from: JJandJGjointomakesuperteam Jimmie, if you could design a track what would it be like?

Jimmie_Johnson About 60 degrees of banking, a mile long, made out of concrete, and maybe even a couple of jumps to bring us back to my old off-roading days.

Host: Question from: Forever3 Jimmie, after seeing what Kevin Harvick is doing in Winston Cup, do you think your transition will be any easier?

Jimmie_Johnson I hope so! Kevin's doing an awesome job. He is driving for the same team in Busch and Cup so he knows all the people involved over there. He is climbing into some of the best cars out there and he is getting the job done driving. I feel that I will have the same situation joining Hendrick, and I hope to have the same success right off the bat.

Host: What are your thoughts on the extended season?

Jimmie_Johnson It doesn't really bother me. I am fairly new at this too, so I look forward to being in the car as much as possible. I don't mind the additional races we have to run. I even ran a late dirt model on Saturday night just to race some more.

Host: Do you think that the Busch Series is growing too big?

Jimmie_Johnson No, I don't feel that it is growing too big. This year there have been some changes made that have increased the value and I think that is why we don't have the 60 car fields any more. The more the Busch grows and becomes closer to Cup the better training ground it will be for drivers trying to move up to Cup.

Host: What do you want to get most out of this season?

Jimmie_Johnson I want to win the Championship and win a lot of races, in a dream situation. That is what we are all here to do. I want to give the Herzogs a star performance this year, being that it is my last year driving for them before I move to Cup cars with Hendrick. I would like to get them some wins and maybe even a Championship, if possible.

Host: Question from: palfrey What do you do in your off time? Someone told us that you visit Maine and go hunting.

Jimmie_Johnson I have never been hunting before. I enjoy anything that has a motor attached to it. I live on a lake in North Carolina so I do a lot of water activities, and snow skiing in the winter.

Host: Question from: maw4000 Do you miss your runs to the desert here in California?

Jimmie_Johnson Yes, I do. The desert vehicles are probably the neatest vehicles I have ever driven. I am sad that the off-road industry didn't take off like people thought it would. On the other hand, I am enjoying what I am doing now though.

Host: If there were any changes you would like to see NASCAR, make what would they be?

Jimmie_Johnson The hardest thing is being on the road so much, but this year with the condensed schedule, this has been great. We get an extra day at home, and when that adds up to like 33 days, it gives us an extra month at home. I wish they would give us more tires in practice, too. You get two sets, and when you are a rookie you use the first one just trying to get around, so when you get to your second set, you are really at a disadvantage.

Host: Question from: JJandJGjointomakesuperteam Jimmie, first of all, go get that guitar at Nashville. Second of all, if you could take anyone's position in their Cup ride, who would you take?

Jimmie_Johnson I feel the opportunity I am getting next year will be with Jeff Gordon's equipment, so you would pick the top guys, and Jeff Gordon is one of them. It will be that way next year, and five times later this year.

Host: Question from: pitmom17 What is a bigger thrill: the speed or the competition?

Jimmie_Johnson I think it is the competition. The speed, as weird as it sounds, when you are by yourself, you are just trying to keep it off the wall. The competition, when you are having to deal with the aero and racing somebody, or when you are running side-by-side, that is exciting. I like being able to out-race somebody.

Host: How hard is it going to be to catch and dethrone Jeff Green for the title?

Jimmie_Johnson That is going to be the biggest thing I would have to overcome in my career. I was talking to Ray Evernham the other day, and he said he didn't know what he had in a driver when he had Jeff Gordon. He didn't give Jeff the credit he deserved, so if I can run with Jeff and beat him, I will be very proud of that.

Host: Question from: dalejr_fan How do you think the rest of the season will go for you?

Jimmie_Johnson I think it is going to continue to get better and better. We are getting a handle on the new tire and motor and we have adjusted our bodies for that. We found a good balance for the car at Texas and we should have finished better there but we made a risky call on tires that didn't work out. I am understanding how to drive the cars and squeeze out a little more on every lap. Our pit stops have become very solid and it is just a matter of time before we get our first win, and hopefully many more after that.

Host: Question from: jimmie Jimmie, who is your favorite singer? And what kind of music you like?

Jimmie_Johnson Rock N Roll and alternative rock. I have gotten into some techno music lately too. From being in Wisconsin for 4 years, I also picked up the country music stuff. I don't have one favorite. I am not that much into music until my 11-year-old brother fills me in. I am always just thinking about racing.

Host: Question from: JGordan24Fan What do you think of examples of poor sportsmanship, such as the retaliation of Tony Stewart on Jeff Gordon?

Jimmie_Johnson Bristol will bring the animal out of anybody, especially on the white flag lap. When Tony saw the video and saw what went on, he would probably go back and not do that. When I was growing up driving motorcycles, the bike was so big for me that I couldn't pick it up and I fell. My dad saw me fall and I kicked the bike. In the end, I didn't get to race another month because I kicked the bike. You are going to get mad but you have to take care of it a certain way. My dad instilled that in me growing up and I don't think you would see those kinds of actions out of me.

Host: Question from: JJandJGjointomakesuperteam Jimmie, do you use any NASCAR sims to help you learn new tracks? (i.e. NASCAR Racing 4 or NASCAR Heat}

Jimmie_Johnson I have some friends that do. Hank Parker and Dale Jr. are pretty heavy into that stuff, so I play with them. I just got a new computer about 2 months ago so I haven't gotten heavily into that stuff.

Host: Question from: Horse What has been your biggest thrill as a driver?

Jimmie_Johnson I will give you two. One was hitting the wall at Watkins Glen when I hit the wall and thought I would die. Two is racing up front. These drivers are so good at what they do and when I am up there racing with Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton or Kevin Harvick, it makes you feel so good inside that you are at that level and able to compete with those guys.

Host: That's all the time Jimmie has for us today. Thanks Jimmie! What are your final thoughts?

Jimmie_Johnson Thank you for signing on and trying to get to know me a little better. I look forward to putting on good shows for you on TV and I appreciate your support!