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Jimmie Johnson bounced back from race losing penalty last week in Dover to a dominant win at Pocono International Raceway on Sunday.
The five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champ led 128 of the 160-lap race at the 2.5 mile track known as the Tricky Triangle for its three turns.
The only time he was threatened was on restarts which mostly came towards the end of the race. Greg Biffle, who ended up a distant 1.208 seconds back as runner-up gave it his all but never got within striking distance of the race winner's Chevy.
“I'm sure we've had some other really strong races like that, but not in recent memory,” Johnson said. “What a race car. Not only the car and the handling and the grip that it had, but also the engine and what was under the hood. When I would lean on the throttle, this baby would yard anybody and everybody.”
But this victory, third of the year and his third at Pocono, didn't make up for the penalty for jumping that restart at Dover last week.” It doesn't make up for much, but we know we are a great race team. Things won't keep us down,” he said.
It was on the winner's mind after the race “I wanted to prove a point and show everybody really what could happen in that restart zone than what happened to me last week, but I couldn't do it to a teammate. (Earnhardt) I just couldn't. So I guess if things stay the way they do, I'll save that for another day and prove my point even more.”
It will be hard to keep Johnson down, notching the victory increased his points lead over Carl Edwards (who finished 18th) to 51 points.
Ford driver, Biffle's, valiant late-race move came up short so he had to settle for second place. “The 48 (Johnson) was definitely in a league of his own today. I was just hoping I could get up to his rear bumper or something would happen and I could get close enough to race with him, but we just needed a few more adjustments.”
It was a very successful day for Hendrick Motorsports engines as Johnson's teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third followed by the Stewart-Haas Racing HMS customers, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, finished third and fourth respectively.
Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano completed the top 10.
The five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champ led 128 of the 160-lap race at the 2.5 mile track known as the Tricky Triangle for its three turns.
The only time he was threatened was on restarts which mostly came towards the end of the race. Greg Biffle, who ended up a distant 1.208 seconds back as runner-up gave it his all but never got within striking distance of the race winner's Chevy.
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| Jimmie Johnson, winner at Pocono International Raceway. (Photo: NASCAR) |
“I'm sure we've had some other really strong races like that, but not in recent memory,” Johnson said. “What a race car. Not only the car and the handling and the grip that it had, but also the engine and what was under the hood. When I would lean on the throttle, this baby would yard anybody and everybody.”
But this victory, third of the year and his third at Pocono, didn't make up for the penalty for jumping that restart at Dover last week.” It doesn't make up for much, but we know we are a great race team. Things won't keep us down,” he said.
It was on the winner's mind after the race “I wanted to prove a point and show everybody really what could happen in that restart zone than what happened to me last week, but I couldn't do it to a teammate. (Earnhardt) I just couldn't. So I guess if things stay the way they do, I'll save that for another day and prove my point even more.”
It will be hard to keep Johnson down, notching the victory increased his points lead over Carl Edwards (who finished 18th) to 51 points.
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
Ford driver, Biffle's, valiant late-race move came up short so he had to settle for second place. “The 48 (Johnson) was definitely in a league of his own today. I was just hoping I could get up to his rear bumper or something would happen and I could get close enough to race with him, but we just needed a few more adjustments.”
It was a very successful day for Hendrick Motorsports engines as Johnson's teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third followed by the Stewart-Haas Racing HMS customers, Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, finished third and fourth respectively.
Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano completed the top 10.