The Questions With Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Driver

What was yourwelcome-to-NASCAR moment?
My first race--at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2001--I left pit road, and I hadMark Martin in front of me and Dale Jarrett behind me. I thought, Holy cow, Ican't believe I'm between these guys.

What was yourmost embarrassing moment?
That same race, maybe 50 miles later, I spun out. As I was crashing, I almosttook out my teammate, Jeff Gordon, who was running for a championship. Thatwould have been horrible.

If I werecommissioner for a day, I'd ...
give us some more weekends off. We only have three in a 10-month season.

What hurts mostthe day after a race?
My whole right leg. There's so much fine touch required to work the gas pedal.It strains the control muscles in your glute, calf and hamstring.

LAST WEEK

Johnson, moved upto eighth place in the Chase for the Nextel Cup with a 13th-place finish atDover.

THIS WEEK

The Chase movesto Kansas Speedway, where Johnson has had three top 10 finishes in four careerraces.

PHOTO

FRED VUICH

PHOTO

BOB ROSATO