Johnson unhappy with 15th-place finish at 'Dega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Jimmie Johnson led more laps than any other driver Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, but left the track in as foul a mood as anyone.

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With three laps remaining in the Aaron's 499, Johnson was riding along in the top-groove, vying for his first career superspeedway victory when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dove low to pass Matt Kenseth.

During the exchange, Earnhardt went below the yellow line -- a no-no in restrictor plate competition when done to advance a position. NASCAR ruled that Earnhardt was already past Kenseth before going below the line, and therefore issued no penalty.

When Earnhardt returned to the racing surface, Johnson was forced to make an evasive maneuver that left him all alone at the top of the track. Subsequently, he was shuffled back. When he tried to get back in line, he was hit in the rear and spun out, resulting in a 15th-place finish.

VIDEO CLIPS Victory Lane Play video Earnhardt Jr.'s controversial pass Play video Harvick finishes second at Talladega Play video Johnson spins, finishes 15th Play video The Big One Play video Reaction to the The Big One Play video

"From my vantage point, (Earnhardt) came across the flat, which would be below the yellow line, up through traffic and almost body slammed whoever was inside of me," Johnson said.

"I moved up to give them room so we wouldn't have a big pile-up and when I did, that it put me in the third lane, and no one followed me. It shuffled me to the back.

"Then, I just tried getting down into a hole that wasn't big enough, spun out."

Though Johnson's 15th-place finish is disheartening after such a strong run, he still managed to improve a position in the championship standings, from fifth to fourth.

"We had a great race car all day long and too bad we came home 15th," Johnson said. "I thought we had a shot at the win, but things got really shuffled when Junior made his pass.

"I watched him drive across the flat up onto the track. Anybody else who ever dances down there gets in trouble. I got busted on it in the 125s last year and I only had my left side tires below. That's the rule as I understand it."