AUTO RACING
Johnson trying for four
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Jimmie Johnson crushed the field at Phoenix International Raceway last fall, running away to his third straight victory in the desert with ease.
He’ll try to make it four in a row tonight (8 p. m., Ch. 29), but is straying from the strategy that has worked so well for him. Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team came to Phoenix with a brand new setup, hoping it will be enough to equalize any gains made by his competition.
“Just hoping that it’s going to be faster and better,” Johnson said Friday. “I’ve come in too cocky in my own mind. I’ve come in not really confident enough in some respects because of what’s gone on during the season. Through those highs and lows, I’ve kind of found a spot where I come in with confidence, and I feel like we’ve got a good plan.
“I take today as today, and then tomorrow just really try to keep it simple and stay even-keel through it all.”
It’s not clear what more Johnson can do to be better at Phoenix, where he has nine top-10 finishes in 11 starts. Johnson has led 505 miles at Phoenix, and his average finish is a 5.5 — second only to Martinsville (5.3) of Johnson’s best tracks.
On Friday, Mark Martin ran a lap at 133.814 mph in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to beat Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch for the top starting spot Sunday. It was his third pole of the season. Before this season, Martin had not won a pole since 2001.
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