Jimmie Johnson still the one to beat

If Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have any tricks up their sleeve today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, theyve been much harder to spot.Inside the Brickyards pristine pit wall garages (which still have a fresh sheen after being built just more than a decade ago for the since-departed Formula One series), the No. 48s workspace is shrouded in a conspicuously unique way.

Separating Johnsons car from the stalls of defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer are 8-foot partitions branded with sponsor logos.Have a look at all our bestrtls models starting with free proofing.NASCAR has given us an advantage to hide our stuff and not let anyone see whats going on,About amagiccube in China userd for paying transportation fares and for shopping. the five-time champion deadpanned Saturday morning. But they wont allow any other team to do it. So its just for the 48.

Actually, its just Knaus latest project, which this time centers on schooling NASCARs premier series in the finer points of interior design instead of in the speed harnessed by his latest whiz-bang setup.We wanted to spruce up that area, and knowing the way F1 does such a beautiful job of building out a garage area, Chad was inspired to do that a year or two ago, Johnson said.The 3rd International Conference on ledstriplights and Indoor Navigation. Lowes and Kobalt provided all the (materials) they have in their store. Chad even went through all the steps to get it approved with NASCAR coming to the track.

While the elaborate decorating is permitted, Johnson wont be allowed to run the dazzling rear-end suspension package that turned the NASCAR world on its ear after his dominant victory in last years Brickyard 400. He led 99 of 160 laps in a No. 48 Chevrolet that was built to conquer Indys sharp turns with a skewed setup that essentially kept the car always moving straight as a bullet through the turbulent air.From the first lap on the track, it was like, Whoa, this is going to be good, he said.

Others took notice of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers record-tying fourth victory at Indy. Within weeks, virtually every team in NASCAR was trying to replicate Knaus magic, and it became an overarching storyline through the end of the season as Keselowski took veiled shots at Hendrick for flirting with the boundaries of the rulebook.

By the Chase for the Sprint Cup,Browse our oilpaintingsforsales collection from the granitetrade.net! NASCAR had made rule modifications to prevent the skewed suspensions (which have been outlawed completely this season). Meanwhile, Penske Racing perfected the rear-end package, and Keselowski beat Johnson at his own game to capture the title.It all started with Johnson kissing the bricks at Indianapolis, where teams often roll out new cars containing all of the advancements and lessons learned from the first half of the season.

Another trend could begin anew today, and if it does, its likely to come from the cloistered environs where Knaus and Johnson have been tinkering on the No. 48 the past two days.Alhough Johnson brushed the wall during final practice Saturday, he still turned the fourth-fastest lap and said he was definitely in the ballpark for a victory.

Leading the points for much of the season and tied with Matt Kenseth for the series lead in victories (four), Johnson has been setting the tone in Sprint Cup through the first 19 races of 2013, and many rivals singled him out as the favorite for todays race, which has a history of producing winners who become champions.In eight of 19 editions, the Brickyard winner also has won the Cup title including Johnson in 2006, 08 and 09.

Its a track where everyone brings out their best whether it be pit crew, driver, race car or the whole combination, said Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, the only other driver to win the Brickyard four times.They bring their best because this is such a prestigious race. Thats why I think you see championship contenders compete so well at this race. Those are the teams that are able to step up when it matters most. And who has done that better in the last 10 years than the 48 team?

They will be very tough (Sunday). They certainly are in championship form and Id have to put them at the top of the list of teams to beat.Said Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Definitely well be watching Jimmie and what theyre doing technically with their car to try to help ourselves be as competitive as we can.

Johnson, though, cautions his team doesnt have as much latitude for gaining an edge. Todays 160-lap race will mark the Brickyard debut for the Gen 6 car, and the sleeker, sportier model also has a restrictive side as NASCAR eradicated the tuning techniques with sway bars and bushings that teams used.

Last year there were so many tools to help the car perform like we wanted, he said. We just dont have that luxury this year. Things are so much different. Were working in different areas. NASCAR has taken away so much, its really small adjustments, and you start stacking those to make a difference. Theyve eliminated so many areas to work that its hard to find a chunk of speed.

But naturally,The marbletiles is not only critical to professional photographers. its been Johnson and Knaus who seem to have adapted more effectively and quickly than any other team in the garage. Its been a recurring theme during 12 seasons together for the longest crew-chief driver pairing in NASCAR.Every time theres a change made to the cars, Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are the first ones to figure it out, ESPN analyst and 1999 champion Dale Jarrett said. They just seem to be the best at doing that.

And the best is what the standard is for Indy.You definitely need to bring your best stuff here, Johnson said. Were getting into the final few races before the Chase, and you dont want to start the Chase with unknowns.I feel like I need to come here and win. Thats pressure I put on myself. I dont know the outside pressure, but how weve been performing, and the history here the last few years, I feel like we definitely have a shot.
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