Johnson must get used to the questions

By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Wednesday, February 22, 2006 11:22 PM PST ∞

El Cajon's Jimmie Johnson can't wait for the green flag to drop for Sunday's Auto Club 500 at Fontana.

He's hoping maybe then the questions about cheating will stop and that he can prove his detractors wrong with another strong showing.

Most likely, that won't happen.

Unfortunately, scandals don't seem to go away quietly ---- just ask some of baseball's home run hitters.

Even though Johnson's car faced three hours of post-race inspection after Sunday's Daytona 500 win, even though his suspended crew chief Chad Knaus was nowhere in sight, even though there was nothing disputable about his win, Johnson can't avoid the questions.

That much became apparent Tuesday when NASCAR added three more races to Knaus' suspension and the buzz started again.

"It's a big deal that it took place," Johnson said in a teleconference Wednesday. "But the bigger story is (what) this team has overcome. Now we're facing all these problems again. I look forward to when it's gone and to let this victory soak in. I don't like being in this position. I don't want to be in this position.

"This is not the reputation I want my race team to have or I want to have."

But the No. 48 team is surrounded by it. Knaus was suspended after a win at Las Vegas last year when the car didn't meet the minimum height requirement. Knaus was also fined $35,000, but his suspension was overturned.

Now, Knaus is on probation for the rest of the year.

So no matter how much Johnson would like to be clean, the questions will always be lurking because they have to be asked. Auto racing teams have prided themselves on finding any way to win.

It's unfortunate because winning at Daytona should be the highest of highs for Johnson, and instead he's bogged down by controversy.

"I hate the negative stuff that's been surrounding us," Johnson said. "It challenges you, and you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. But there's no way any of this will change our desire."

With Knaus out, however, it will affect the lineup at a critical time.

As Johnson put it earlier in the week, missing Knaus is like missing a head coach on the football field.

On Wednesday, Johnson stated that Fontana is usually an indicator of how the rest of the season goes because it's a non-restrictor plate race, as most of the 36 dates on the schedule are.

Thus far, the team has only had one round of testing in Las Vegas with a brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo meaning that Knaus' presence will be missed sorely.

One thing in Johnson's favor ---- he has won at each of the next three tracks on the schedule: Fontana, Las Vegas and Atlanta.

And this weekend he's got the hometown crowd in his favor.

"I'm excited to be out here banging the NASCAR drum," Johnson said. "I won my first Cup race there and I grew up out here in the San Diego area."

Marshall update


Sad news from the Amp'd Mobile Supercross circuit. James Marshall, the rider who was seriously injured during Heat No. 2 at Qualcomm Stadium on Feb. 11, was left paralyzed by the incident.

Marshall remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Sharp Memorial Hospital with broken C2, C5 and C6 vertebrae.

Perris kids start soon


Vista's Dominic McClintic, 6, is revving his engine for a shot at his fourth-straight title at the Perris Raceway Motokids Track.

McClintic, who attends Beaumont Elementary, races in the 4-to-6 year-old age group with a group of about 10 riders. In all, about 50 to 60 participants are expected to compete in the Spring Shootout, a series of races that begins March 5 and runs into April.

The cost is $25 per round to ride. Drivers are divided into age groups through age 12. For more information, check out www.perrismotokids.com.

Pit Passes


Rancho Santa Fe's Liz Halliday was named the 2005 Rookie of the Year by DailySportsCar.com. Halliday finished sixth in the American Le Mans Series championship despite competing in only five of 10 races. ... Carlsbad's Boris Said spent Tuesday tutoring NASCAR driver Carl Edwards and 2005 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Todd Kluever on the intricacies of road racing at Virginia International Raceway. Said also recently signed with Evernham Motorsports to field a car in both NASCAR Busch Series road-course races: Mexico City and Watkins Glen.

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at (760) 739-6643 or dhayes@nctimes.com.