Johnson Stirs Things Up Again

Controversy seems to follow Jimmie Johnson around.

The highly talented stock car driver from El Cajon, Calif., was embroiled in spats with fellow drivers in Thursday’s Gatorade 150 and Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Both were serious enough to have NASCAR officials call the parties together and make peace -- at least publicly.

On the last lap of the 500, Johnson and Tony Stewart bumped into each other before taking the checkered flag, then deliberately bumped again after crossing the finish line.

“I was mad he pinched me into the No. 10 [Scott Riggs],” Stewart said. “We went down there and we both bumped into each other. We both did the same thing to each other, so it’s fine.

“NASCAR more than anything wanted to make sure it wasn’t something that was going to linger overnight. It’s like I told Jimmie, you know, Jimmie and I are really good friends and this isn’t something that’s going to linger tonight. It’s over. I think NASCAR just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything big happening out of it.”

Johnson agreed.

“Exactly the same,” he said. “NASCAR was kind of joking about it inside the trailer, saying they just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything to start off the season. We both come to the finish line doing all we can. There’s been a lot more attention to this than ever was needed. Let’s go home.”

When Stewart emerged from the NASCAR trailer, he said, “We were trading cookie secrets.”

Johnson finished fifth and Stewart seventh.

Thursday’s incident involved Johnson and Kevin Harvick and came about when Johnson was leading and Harvick ran into him, damaging Harvick’s car enough that he had to start Sunday in a backup car. The two were called into the NASCAR office the next day.

“A day makes a big difference,” Johnson said Friday. “We were able to sit down and talk with NASCAR with all of us involved there. Through it all, we decided that today is a new day and we are going to move forward.

“There are a lot of guys that are still upset and a lot of guys that have to go to backup cars. There were some heavy hits, and some guys have some bruises and stuff from the crash.”

Johnson said the worst thing about it was the embarrassment of the meeting.

“In a situation like that, it’s not something comfortable. It’s not like sitting with your parents talking. It wasn’t a pleasurable experience, but it was needed and I think the thing we needed to accomplish in the NASCAR trailer was accomplished. And I think it’s just time to look a different direction and let this be behind us.”

At the time of the crash, Johnson and Harvick were running first and second but both were put out of the race, which was won by Stewart.