Jimmie Johnson has recovered of own errors, mechanical failures and the disappearance of several friendly in an airplane accident, to fight in championship 2004 of NASCAR, the same that knew to lead throughout several months.
This Sunday Johnson obtained an unexpected aid of its teammate Jeff Gordon, whose mechanics committed an error unaccustomed in the resupply of the Montecar it #24.
This form Johnson it took the opportunity to gain the 500 miles in the Darlington Raceway, becoming a serious threat stops the present leader of the championship, Kurt Busch. The distance between both now is of only 18 points.
Johnson, who led the contest throughout 26 dates, began to descend in the table when its equipment (Hendrick Motorsports) began to undergo new pieces in its Chevrolet #48. Even so Jimmie entered to “playoff”, but the bad gust of wind continued. In the first four races the North American was located 9º to 247 points of Busch. Now, to only a date of the end with 4 victories in last the 5 competitions, this 2º stuck the pilot of Ford.
“We have eight triumphs in our account, but this cannot cure the loss of our friendly in the accident. I feel an emptiness within inexplicable me, but this surely helps us much. It is a good medicine”, expressed Jimmie.
The leader of the championship, Kurt Busch, fought with an unstable car after its Ford was damaged early, when the novice Brendan Gaughan jumped of the wall he struck and it. Busch of some way overcame the adversity, as so many times it did east year, and recovered until 6º position to maintain by few points the leadership of the championship.
“Today we avoided a bullet! ”, Busch joked. “Now I can laugh envelope which happened, but without doubts affection the operation of my Taurus”, adding, “the car never were good, but the effort class that my equipment has put on the car today is the key to the gain of a championship.”
On the imminent definition of crown 2004, Busch expressed: “We have been enough things of our east side year old”, said the pilot of Ford. “Now we must imitate what we did the year one more week throughout.”
The victory of Johnson was not easy. In order to gain Jimmie it had to reach to the novice Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray after they remained outside when the leaders had paused to change tires. With fresh rubbers, Johnson prevailed.
“To These boys they really made it difficult”, said Johnson. “I knew everything what my car could give on new tires. I made the maneuvers right and I gained the victory.”
Finally Johnson crossed the line of goal little less than a second of advantage on the Ford of Mark Martin. The veteran once again will look for his first title of NASCAR the next weekend in Miami.
Without doubts the great loser of the day was the multiple champion Jeff Gordon. Gordon, winner of Darlington in six occasions, had the way to a easy victory, dominating second half of the race, until in a period of precaution crique of compressed air failed and its car collapsed during the resupply.
“If we are going to win this championship, we cannot commit this class of errors”, said ofuscado Gordon. “We committed an error and this cost the triumph to us…”
The longed for definition of NASCAR championship 2004 will arrive the next week in the track from Miami, and there we will know if Busch manages to maintain the crown in the followers of Roush Racing, or if the Nextel glass happens at the hands of Hendrick Motorsports.

To see result of the race