NASCAR Stars Kahne, Johnson And Kyle Busch Ready To Compete
Following Carpentier to the infield media center on Tuesday was reigning and two-time series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), who’s won the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Las Vegas.
Johnson also registered his optimism over the new car’s test performances.
“It's got less downforce and all these things that make it harder to drive,” Johnson said. “But we still end up with the same race. Martinsville was still an awesome race. Dover was the same. Talladega was awesome. You get back to that same thing. It's still a race car on that track, and we're still seeing that same stuff here.”
And although he knows he and his race team are the target among their peers, he’s not worried about pressure to produce a third consecutive series title.
“I don't feel it any more than I would in any year,” Johnson said. “I think when you drive for Hendrick Motorsports, Rick (Hendrick) has a history of setting a high mark. The company has a lot of expectations of its drivers, its crew chiefs. There's a lot expected of us. I feel more pressure from that environment than any outside environment.”
During Kasey Kahne’s lunch-break visit with the media, he admitted he’s feeling more comfortable each day in his new red firesuit emblazoned with new sponsor, Budweiser.
“I think it's too early to tell on a lot of that stuff, you know, how it's going to all work out and things,” Kasey Kahne said. “I feel pretty good about it. I've been definitely happy to have Budweiser colors, be working with those people. It's been a lot of fun.”
One thing he does have his eye on is next month’s 50th Daytona 500. Growing up in Washington, Kahne remembers his family hosting breakfasts on race day and watching the race broadcasts with his father.
“I just think it's awesome to be part of the 50th anniversary,” Kahne said. “The first time I went through the tunnel to Daytona, you know, you see the facility, the track, the bank. You can remember so many races that you've seen on TV, so much stuff that's went on. It's neat. It's exciting. It's a great feeling to be part of that.”
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota) wrapped up Tuesday’s lunch-break media availability, adding to Joe Gibbs Racing teammate’s Denny Hamlin’s (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) Monday comments on the good communication brewing between their teams and that of teammate Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet).
Throw in the crew chiefs – Greg Zipadelli for Tony Stewart, Steve Addington for Busch and Mike Ford for Denny Hamlin – and Kyle Busch’s introduction to the JGR community seems to be a hit.
“Everything has really worked well,” said Busch, who comes to JGR from Hendrick Motorsports. “I've talked to Zippy a lot already this weekend. Working with Denny and Mike Ford a little bit. Of course, my guys, we've been communicating all the time. Steve and I haven't stopped talking to each other or texting each other at night and stuff. We're back and forth all the time.”
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