NASCAR Cup

Jimmie Johnson enjoying time off

Second place racer in Winston Cup points, Jimmie Johnson's been antsy since the end of the season, biding his time for a chance to get back behind the wheel. For Johnson, he hasn't stopped waking up in the middle of the night and wondering if he's ...

Published: Dec 6, 2003, 3:36 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Second place racer in Winston Cup points, Jimmie Johnson's been antsy since the end of the season, biding his time for a chance to get back behind the wheel. For Johnson, he hasn't stopped waking up in the middle of the night and wondering if he's at a race track, but after the festivities in New York close, his main focus is to enjoy a little down time and prepare for making a bid for the 2004 Nextel Cup championship.

You recently bought an apartment in New York, is the anonymity what you enjoy about the city?

I don't get to spend too much time here unfortunately. It depends on my schedule and when I can get away. It's been a mini-vacation for me, I spent one of the off weekends up here, and I came up a couple of other times during the year. It's a nice break in between races.

Are you still splitting your time between New York and Charlotte?

Yeah I am still splitting my time, but mainly I am in Charlotte. It's where I need to be, at the shop and near my guys. When I get a chance and there isn't anything on my schedule then I try and sneak up to New York.

Is this a welcome respite after such a grueling season?

I love driving the car, that's my passion. I mean that is what I wanted to do my whole life. It's the other stuff that is work. The travel and the obligations -- that is the stuff that is the work. If all I ever had to do was drive a car on Sunday, I could do that year round. So I am going to enjoy the break and forget about the traveling.

If you had to chose, what is the right amount of time you'd like to have off?

For me as a driver it only takes a weekend off. I'm waking up in the middle of the night, wondering if I am at the racetrack. My mind wanders during the day and I am thinking about what racetrack we are going to next and then I realize we aren't going anywhere.

You finished second this year, do you feel like you are set to make a run at the championship in 2004?

Next year we've only got one spot to go (laughs), we're really going to put all of our efforts and set our sights on that next year.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Evernham Motorsports announces 2004 plans

Next article Sauter to drive No. 30 for RCR

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss

FIA F2

F2 FIA F2 3 h

Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss

WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota

WEC

WEC WEC

Barcelona

4 h

WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota

Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test

Indy NXT

IndL Indy NXT 5 h

Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test

Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

6 h

Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts