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Home > Track Information / Schedules > Old Tracks and Race Schedules > Pocono Raceway
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closeJohnson pleased with Pocono finish
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Sunday, Aug. 05, 2007
LONG POND, Pa. - Jimmie Johnson finished Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 slightly better than where he started and that’s just fine by him.
Johnson had slipped from second to ninth in points over the past seven races through a variety of flat tires and freak accidents so a fifth place finish after starting seventh was a welcome respite.
“We keep looking back at the performances we’ve had and that’s kept our spirits very high. I would be lying if I said we weren’t looking at the points and getting concerned,” Johnson said.
“We’ve been running good so in our meeting (Sunday morning) we decided not to change anything and keep doing what we have been doing.”
Staying the course in this case was a good prescription.
Johnson moved up to spots to seventh and now has a 232-point cushion over 13th place with five races remaining before the field is set for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
“We needed this really bad to stop the bleeding. With the competition as stuff as it is and everybody getting prepared for the Chase, I want to go in with a nice margin and not have to earn my way in through the last race,” Johnson said.
| TRACK FACTS Date Opened: October 20, 1968 First NWCS Race: Purolator 500, August 5, 1974 Qualifying Record: Kasey Kahne, 172.533 mph (52.164 sec.), 7/11/04 Race Record: Rusty Wallace, 144.892 mph, 7/21/96 Owner: N/A CEO: Dr. Joseph Mattioli Phone: (570) 646-2300 Tickets: (800) RACEWAY Shipping Address: Long Pond Road Long Pond, PA 18334 Mailing Address: PO Box 500 Long Pond, PA 18334 |
TRACK CONFIGURATION Distance: 2.5 Mile Oval Banking in Turn 1: 14° Banking in Turn 2: 8° Banking in Turn 3: 6° Length of Frontstretch: 3,740 ft. Length of Shortstretch: 1,780 ft. Length of Backstretch: 3,055 ft. Grandstand Seating: N/A Miles/Laps: 500 mi. = 200 laps |