Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
Through the first two-thirds of the season, NASCAR Winston Cup rookie Jimmie Johnson has been the model driver -- both on the track and off.
Besides winning two races and posting a dozen other top-10 finishes in the first 23 races, Johnson is the only Winston Cup driver who holds weekly conference calls with the media. The well-spoken, well-mannered 26-year-old has generated nothing but positive exposure for his sponsor, the Lowe's home improvement chain.
Until Saturday night, that is.
After being knocked out of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway by his old desert-racing buddy Robby Gordon, Johnson waited on the apron of the track and flipped off Gordon as he drove by Johnson's wrecked car.
Johnson wasn't the only driver to let his emotions get the better of him during the race. But by the time Johnson met with the media Tuesday during his weekly teleconference, it was clear the Southern California native had been reflecting on his uncharacteristic display.
"I don't believe I handled my situation in a professional manner," a contrite Johnson said. "If I could take it back, I would. I don't need to be out there representing Lowe's and all the sponsors and Hendrick Motorsports acting the way I did.
"It's something that I'm ashamed that it happened but I can't take it back. Everybody has been extremely understanding of the emotions that took place. It's something that I won't do again. I'm a professional and I need to act like a professional and not be out there shooting the guy a bird."
Johnson, who stayed off the racing surface when he made his gesture, was not fined by NASCAR -- unlike Ward Burton, who was fined $5,000 for standing on the track and throwing his heel pads at Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car after the two had tangled.
"I don't think they (NASCAR) like guys running out on the race track and throwing things and being in a situation of being injured or hit by a vehicle," Johnson said. "But it makes good TV. When I had my incident, I heard the fans screaming over the racecars.
"It makes a good show for TV to see the emotions of some of the drivers but I think NASCAR will get involved if someone is putting themselves in a position to be injured."
As a result of the incident, Johnson finished 34th and slipped from third to fifth in points.
"For me, it's so frustrating that you end up being calm," Johnson said. "I haven't been madder in my whole life. Racing for the Winston Cup championship in your rookie season and having something like that happen that was uncalled for -- and that wasn't even at speed or racing at the time -- made me really mad.
"It's behind me, it's done, and there's nothing I can do about it. The points are gone. We'll go to Darlington and try to run those guys back down."
"I have spoken with my brother and he is alert and in good spirits," Jim France said Thursday. "The doctors say to expect a full recovery."
In addition to serving as chairman of the board of NASCAR, France is chairman and CEO of International Speedway Corporation, which owns and/or operates 12 tracks including Daytona International Speedway, California Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.
Harvick will field his own truck while Stewart will drive for Andy Petree. Bobby Hamilton and Ken Schrader also are expected to drive.
Las Vegas residents Mike Cofer and Brendan Gaughan were named to the mock 11-player team as placekickers. Cofer, who competes in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, won two Super Bowl rings as a member of the San Francisco 49ers while Gaughan was a placekicker at Bishop Gorman High School and Georgetown University.
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