NHRA

Warren Johnson tests new Grand Am

SUGAR HILL, Ga. - While visions of sugar plums danced in children's heads, Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson unwrapped his new 2001 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac Grand Am in a preseason test in Bradenton, Fla. The five-time NHRA champion was as ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

SUGAR HILL, Ga. - While visions of sugar plums danced in children's heads, Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson unwrapped his new 2001 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac Grand Am in a preseason test in Bradenton, Fla. The five-time NHRA champion was as delighted with his new race car as a kid with a new toy on Christmas morning.

"This car will definitely run 6.70s," Johnson predicted. "There is no doubt about that."

Despite chilly temperatures and a stone-cold track, the Professor's new Pontiac turned competitive times in its debut at DeSoto Memorial Dragway. "The car ran 6.87 at 200.57 mph on its first full pass," Warren reported. "We made a series of suspension adjustments and ran consistently between 6.87 and 6.89.

"Everything worked just the way we wanted it to in the first test," he continued. "I'm very comfortable with the car. We learned its general characteristics, and now it's just a matter of continuing to fine tune the setup before the start of the season."

Johnson's new Grand Am has a longer wheelbase and a narrower overall width than the Firebird he campaigned last season. "You can feel the longer wheelbase because the car reacts a little more slowly and predictably going down the track," W.J. observed. "I'm so relaxed in the driver's seat that I'm thinking about putting a recliner in there!

"I think it's going to be an excellent race car," he concluded.

A second Grand Am from Jerry Haas Race Cars has joined the first Don Ness-built car in Johnson's race car stable. W.J. plans to test both cars in Florida and Arizona in January. The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series will begin with the AutoZone Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., on February 1-4.

Johnson is already counting the hours until the start of the new season. He spent Christmas day in his shop fabricating a new throttle linkage for his race car. "I need more go," he explained with a laugh.

- Rick Voegelin

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 Force Racing hires Gibson as engineer

Next article Don Prudhomme recalls 2000, looks to 2001

Top Comments

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

View More & Comment

Latest news

Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 8 h

Max Verstappen on GTWC Europe debut: “We’re here to win”

How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

8 h

How to watch NASCAR at Phoenix II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV

Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Phoenix II

8 h

Ryan Ellis signs multi-year NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Alpha Prime Racing

Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

14 h

Ayao Komatsu: Rafael Camara chosen for F1 2027 seat on speed, not Ferrari links

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