Johnson Is Now Up to Speed

Jimmie Johnson, the 2002 NAPA Auto Parts 500 winner from El Cajon, had the fastest speed in the final practice sessions Saturday for today’s Auto Club 500. In the morning, he ran 182.709 in his Lowe’s Chevrolet, then came back in the afternoon to run 178.762 with race day gear.

“We got the drivability back and it’s just a matter of working on it,” said Johnson, who qualified a disappointing 19th. “We came up with a real aggressive package that really didn’t pan out in qualifying trim and we kind of went back in the direction of our 2002 race setup.

“It seemed to wake up the car and has brought it back to where we need it, so we’re really optimistic for the race. We’ve gone full circle from where we started off, obviously with the race car. Chad [Knaus, crew chief] really thought about it overnight last night and brought back something that was really good and we were able to fine-tune it from here. So we’re really happy.”

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California Speedway officials announced that today’s race was sold out for the eighth consecutive year.

“After having our biggest Saturday crowd ever, it gives me great pleasure to announce the sellout of the Auto Club 500,” said Bill Miller, Speedway president. “We are looking forward to a tremendous race, which will set the tone for our Labor Day weekend Pop Secret 500.”

Infield wrist bands for $45 remain available for today, but no seats are left for sale.

Tickets for the Pop Secret 500 are $105 and $65 and went on sale Saturday at gates 12 and 14.

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The lighting system that will illuminate the track for the Pop Secret 500 was tested Friday night and Musco Lighting officials said the system uses 3 million watts of power per hour.

That is enough, track officials said, to light a residential street running from Fontana to Oklahoma City.

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Crew member Eric Sainer of Stan Boyd’s team escaped with only minor injuries when Boyd crashed on pit road during the Busch series Stater Bros. 300.

Boyd, trying to bring his Dodge in for pit service, spun at the top of pit road, hit the pit wall and backed down it, scattering equipment set out for his stop.

Sainer was behind the pit wall, but there were mounted tires atop it and he apparently was hit by one of them. He was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center, but X-rays there were negative and he was released.

Boyd and Daniel Kolanda, another crewman, were examined at the infield car center and released.

Said Boyd, a former Craftsman truck regular: “I guess I’m not used to the speed the cars carry in the corner, compared to the trucks.... I ended up overheating the front brakes and there was only rear brakes left. When I came in to make a pit stop, I hit the brakes and I locked up the back tires. It spun me around and that was it.”