Jimmie Johnson Crash Ends Day At Pocono: Bad Tires To Blame?
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson ended his day at Pocono in lap 111 after bad tires caused the No. 48 Chevrolet to smash into a wall. Johnson first hit the outside barrier on lap eight, and was able to continue on — and even get back into contention — before smashing into the turn two wall in the 111th lap, knocking him out of the GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono permanently.
This is the second time in three races that tires have ruined Johnson’s chances at victory. A flat tire on lap 11 at New Hampshire led to a 42nd place finish three weeks ago.
The safety and durability of the Goodyear Tires have been a concern at the New Hampshire track after Aric Amirola and Joey Logano both crashed in practice earlier that weekend. According to a report in USA Today, Johnson’s teammate, Jeff Gordon, who who would go on to a big win at Indianapolis the next weekend, called the Goodyear Tire problem “very concerning.”
Goodyear Tires responded to the crashes by questioning the tire pressure. Greg Stucker, Goodyear Tire’s Director of Race Tire Sales, said that Jimmie Johnson’s tire “failed in a manner consistent with low inflation pressure.”
The latest incident comes after a March Sporting News report that NASCAR teams were complaining about the Goodyear Tire after the Auto Club 400 race, which Johnson was in line to win before his tires failed him, sending him into a wreck. That race was also marred by other drivers experiencing tire issues. Once again, Goodyear blamed the driving teams for not properly inflating the tires. Stucker said then:
“Every left-side tire that we’ve seen gone down or had issues with is kind of the same characteristics as (Saturday), (with) the common denominator being aggressive on air pressure.”
Jeff Gordon spoke out on the March incident by calling Goodyear unprepared for the conditions at the Auto Club Speedway, and today’s crash by Jimmie Johnson at Pocono alludes that Goodyear may still not be prepared. Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Chevrolet have already qualified to the Sprint Cup Chase. Before the race at Pocono, Johnson was fifth in the point standings.
The Pocono race was marred by many other incidents in addition to Jimmie Johnson’s crash, including the “big one” when Denny Hamlin caused a 13 car pile-up on the first turn of lap 177, knocking out contenders Brad Keselowski, Brian Vickers, Paul Menard, Tony Stewart, AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, and Carl Edwards. According to Hamlin, the car got loose and the accident is not attributed to faulty Tires.
Jimmie Johnson will get back on it next week at Watkins Glen, and for better or worse, he’ll do it on Goodyear tires.
[Image Courtesy of Zimbio]
