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Late Marcos Ambrose Mistake Helps Jimmie Johnson Win at Infineon
by Nancy Gay
Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR
SONOMA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson may have won four NASCAR Sprint Cup championships but he’s never been able to conquer the winding road course at Infineon Raceway. In Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, a crucial mistake by Aussie driver Marcos Ambrose opened the way for Johnson to finally win his first road course event in 17 starts.
Johnson, who started second behind pole-sitter Kasey Kahne and led for 55 laps of the 110-lap race, moved in front for good with five laps remaining for his 51st career victory and fourth of the season, thanks to a boneheaded mistake by Ambrose.
During the race’s seventh caution, Ambrose inexplicably shut off his engine hoping to conserve fuel – a rules violation if the car slows to a crawl or a stop.
Drivers are told to maintain caution speed (translation: pace car speed) during yellow flag periods, and Ambrose’s car was unable to start initially after he shut down the engine.
His No. 47 Clorox/Kleenex Toyota slipped back in the pack and the penalty dropped Ambrose to seventh after the restart.
Late Marcos Ambrose Mistake Helps Jimmie Johnson Win at Infineon originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
