Q&A with Jimmie Johnson

The 27-year-old NASCAR phenom swept last month's Charlotte races, the Winston and the Coca-Cola 600, and sits seventh in the Winston Cup points standings.

Jimmie Johnson. Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SI: Do the Californians on the circuit, like you and Jeff Gordon, get along with the Carolinians, like Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

Johnson: Junior's one of my closer friends inside the garage, and D.J.'s great. That whole [east coast/west coast] thing that used to exist years ago doesn't exist anymore since there are so many drivers, and even crew members, who come from the West Coast. What I've noticed is that you have to come out and earn respect from these guys. And that's been my focus.

SI: Would you rather win the points championship or the Daytona 500?

Johnson: The points championship.

SI: Your mom Cathy drove a school bus. Did you ever ride with her?

Johnson: When she worked during summer school, every once in a while they would go somewhere cool like Family Fun Center or Sea World. That's when I'd jump on the bus and ride.

SI: Would you trust her in your Chevy?

Johnson: Around the racetrack, I don't know. She can drive a big rig, a school bus, even a motorcycle, but I haven't seen her in a racecar.

SI: Fans have invited you to proms and you've even been asked to stand in as best man at weddings. Would you ever take a fan up on one of those offers just to surprise the heck out of them?

Johnson: I wish I could, but with our schedule and everything that's going on, it's kind of impossible.

SI: Which opposing drivers' fans give you the hardest time?

Johnson: Junior's fans, just because there are so many of them.

SI: Would you like the opportunity to one day compete in the Indy 500?

Johnson: In theory, I would love to. Realistically, though, I don't think it will ever happen for me. I've never even been in an open-wheel car, so I don't even know where I would start learning how to adjust in the car and what its limits are. I think my Indy car experience will be going to a test session somewhere and having fun.

SI: Carolina Panthers running back Steven Davis -- who wears No. 48 -- watched the Winston in your pit. Whether it's Davis, Dan Marino or Terry Bradshaw, why do football guys love NASCAR so much?

Johnson: I think football players see the teamwork that's needed and involved in car racing and they respect that and relate to it. But more than anything, everybody loves fast cars.

SI: At Granite Hills High you played water polo and you were on the swim team. How good were you?

Johnson: I only swam for a couple of years, but I was pretty good. I was so-so in water polo.

SI: What's the one driving tip you could give our readers?

Johnson: Pay attention on the road.

SI: How many guys on the Winston Cup circuit have ever surfed and water-skied, as you have?

Johnson: Water-skiing is probably pretty common. Maybe four guys have surfed.

SI: Do drivers talk smack to one another?

Johnson: We don't have the whole stare-down and talking junk before the event starts. But if someone crashes into you, you usually speak your mind.

SI: Why do you think people are drawn to you, especially the young fans?

Johnson: I don't know. I think maybe they see something in my life that relates to theirs. I came from a very simple background. My mom was a bus driver and my dad worked as a heavy equipment operator, so maybe people can relate to that. And if you're running well, you're going to have fans and we've been fortunate to run well.

SI: http://www.jimmiejohnson.com/ Your Web site says you still do laundry, pay bills, wash dishes and do yard work. Really? When was the last time you did your own laundry?

Johnson: Probably two days before I came to the race at Dover. If I'm on the road I'll have the hotel take care of it for me, but when I'm home I gotta get laundry done.

SI: What goals do you have in your sport?

Johnson: I'm definitely looking long-term. I definitely want to be in the sport for a long time and do well in it and compete for championships. That's my philosophy. Be patient. Learn. Try not to make the same mistake twice. And respect is a big thing to me. I want to be respected when I walk through this garage area.

--Richard Deitsch

Issue date: June 9, 2003

 

Related information

Stories

Q&A Archive June 9, 2003 Issue of Sports Illustrated The Magazine: Current Issue and Archives

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video