Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus seem perplexed about their team's recent trouble. Credit: Autostock

More troubles cost Johnson points lead

For third week in a row, No. 48 Chevy shut down early

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Jimmie Johnson fell victim to an engine failure for the third consecutive week Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, dropping him from the Nextel Cup Series points lead for the first time since mid-June.

Three weeks ago, Johnson entered the Brickyard 400 fresh off a dominant performance at Pocono that gave him a 232-point advantage over teammate Jeff Gordon. But after suffering broken engines at Indianapolis and Watkins Glen saw it dwindle to 40 points entering Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400.

GFS MARKETPLACE 400 Victory Lane Biffle earns his second career win after leading 73 laps at Michigan Runner Up Mark Martin overcomes a pit penalty to finish second at MIS Early Caution Junior, Johnson and Kahne are involved in the first caution Engine Troubles Jimmie Johnson and Rusty Wallace see their days end early Spin Cycle Both Wimmer and Busch spin off Turn 2, avoid hitting anything Pit Miscue? The No. 6 team is penalized for a loose lugnut •   Results •   Standings •   "Bubble" Standings •   "Clinch" Standings

Then it happened again.

Johnson started on the Bud Pole after qualifying was rained out Friday, and was running in the top five on Lap 81 when he lost a cylinder in the Lowe's Chevy.

"I was going down the straightaway on the backstretch and it acted like it was running out of fuel," Johnson said. "I looked down at my fuel pressure and everything was fine. Then right away I could smell some oil and knew we had dropped a cylinder. It's a shame. Three weeks in a row of DNF."

Prior to this season, Johnson had never recorded more than three DNFs in a single season. He now has five in 2004. Moreover, last weekend's engine failure at The Glen marked the first time Johnson had ever recorded consecutive DNFs.

Johnson finished 40th Sunday. He now sits second in the series standings, 68 points behind teammate Jeff Gordon. Fortunately for Johnson, the new Chase for the Nextel Cup format is forgiving of such misfortune.

"The system works in our favor right now and we just can't have any more of this," Johnson said. "We've got to finish races. You look at the progress we were making with moving forward on the racetrack and probably would have gotten the lead before long.

"We made some adjustments to the car and were going forward. Some little things keep biting us and we have to get that off our back now."

No question. Teams can't afford failures once the Chase begins.

"If we'd have had three weeks like this in the playoffs, or whatever they're going to call the game we're going to play here at the end of the season, we'd be done," crew chief Chad Knaus said.

The No. 48 Chevrolet did not lead a lap Sunday at Michigan. Credit: Autostock

Knaus said he was uncertain whether the three engine failures are the result of a related cause, and added that he didn't run an overly aggressive setup Sunday. Regardless, Knaus doesn't foresee the misfortune affecting team morale.

"It's not an issue," Knaus said. "We come to the racetrack with the same focus and determination every single week. This is a top-notch team. This is the best team in Cup racing right now, and I feel like we can go up to Bristol and get a good top-five finish and then start spanking them from there on out.

"I'll tell you what, this team is not going to give up."

Johnson admits the past three weeks have been tough on him, but at the same time remains focused on the big picture.

"Two, three, four weeks of things not going as you're used to it going, it kind of messes with things," Johnson said. "We'll get it back. This thing is way too good. I'm glad it's a freak deal but we just can't have any more of those."