Asked during last Sunday’s post-race winner’s press conference to comment on the new Sprint Cup Series drivers council, the normally super-polite Jimmie Johnson quickly turned atypically testy.
“I missed that memo,” the six-time champion said following his win at Dover International Speedway. “I wasn’t there. … I don’t think I was invited to that meeting. I haven’t won enough races or championships.”
Seemingly irritated by word of his exclusion from the select group of drivers who met with NASCAR officials for the first time last Saturday night to discuss key issues affecting the sport, Johnson offered some clarity on Friday at Pocono Raceway about why he reacted as he did.
The bottom line: It was all a big misunderstanding.
“I didn’t know that there was a meeting taking place Saturday night,” Johnson said. “When I made my comments, it was in the heat of the moment of winning and having a couple of beers and enjoying what was all going on. I made a comment and I walked out of the media center and I’m like, ‘I bet you that is the driver’s council meeting.’ I just wanted to clarify, because I truly believe in the council.
“I’m very happy with the election process and the consideration that has gone in to representing teams from each kind of bracket, if you will, in the points order of the garage area so that everybody has a voice. I’m very happy with it and I didn’t want to undermine or take away from what that group is doing. I just didn’t know it had happened. I think there is some communications that need to improve amongst the group there.”
The council, which has eight confirmed drivers, including two of Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates — Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. — reportedly discussed safety, the current Sprint Cup Series rules package and the 2016 rules package, among other topics.
Even though he isn’t part of the group, Johnson hopes that such issues continue to be addressed in future meetings.
“I think leaving Daytona after (Kyle Busch’s) incident in the XFINITY race, safety was probably the highest priority,” Johnson said. “It still always is, but the rules package is a hot topic. I feel like we are in an environment right now where there is going to be more change, and trying to make the right decisions is important. I feel that the drivers we are living it inside the car. I know there is a lot of simulation and technology out there to kind of say what will happen, but we just want to make sure our voice is heard and the people that make the decisions know what is really going on in the car and what we are thinking and how we are faced with challenges. I guess in today’s world, right now, the rules package is the priority from the drivers council.”
