Johnson’s Chevrolet fails inspection before qualifying

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Motor Speedway has not been a lucky racetrack for Jimmie Johnson.

His latest setback at the historic track came Saturday when his No. 48 Chevrolet failed inspection and was not allowed to make a qualifying attempt for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. It cost Johnson a shot at the pole, but he will be in today’s race, starting 42nd in the 43-car field.

NASCAR inspectors refused to let the car qualify after finding a chain that holds the axle housing to the chassis on the right rear of the car was hanging too low. The team tried a quick fix, but the inspectors failed the car a second time.

At that point, the team was put on a 5-minute clock and they were unable to fix the problem in time.

“We just had a little problem with the chain that holds the droop on the right rear,” said Chad Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief. “NASCAR didn’t like it the way it was. It wasn’t a big deal. We were trying to fix it and we just didn’t have time.”

Knaus said Johnson and the team will overcome the poor start.

“We’re a team that does well in adverse situations,” he said. “I really feel like even though we’re starting in the back, midway through the race you’re going to see us somewhere in the top 15 and by the end of the race you’ll see us in the top 10.”

Fortunately for Johnson and Knaus, they are in a good situation to deal with a problem like this. While other drivers are fighting to get into the top 10 or simply to stay there, Johnson can remain focused on winning the title.

Johnson, in his fourth season in NASCAR’s top stock car series, has finished second each of the past two years. He lost to Matt Kenseth by 90 points in 2003 and missed the title by eight points last year when Kurt Busch won the first 10-race, playoff-style Chase for the Championship.

Today’s race is one of six remaining before the lineup for the Chase – the top 10 drivers and any others within 400 points of the leader – is decided.

Johnson is out front in the standings, just as he was last year when the Cup cars arrived at Indianapolis. And, just like last year, he has been struggling a bit in recent races.

This time, the Hendrick Motorsports star is coming off finishes of 13th and 12th in the last two events. Johnson, who has led the points through most of the season, still holds a 66-point advantage over Tony Stewart.