Jimmie Johnson's championship hopes went by the boards on Lap 127. Credit: Autostock

Championship eludes Johnson yet again

Blown tire takes Johnson out of race, championship picture

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- As the Ford 400 eased toward its halfway point, Jimmie Johnson coursed the Homestead-Miami Speedway leery that something was amiss in the Lowe's Chevrolet. A green-flag pit stop was certainly called for, but not at the cost of losing two laps to the leader.

	Inside the Numbers Jimmie Johnson's Cup career Year Wins Top-10s Standing 2002 3 21 5th 2003 3 20 2nd 2004 8 23 2nd 2005 4 22 5th Title hopes goneJimmie Johnson cuts a tire and hits the wall Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Johnson was gunning for a championship, after all, and couldn't afford the deficit. So he chanced it.

That decision proved to be the proverbial fat chance.

Entering Turn 3 on Lap 127, the right rear tire on Johnson's Chevrolet exploded, sending him hard into the outside wall, destroying both his car and any hope he and his team had for the Nextel Cup Series championship.

"I had a feeling something was up," Johnson said. "We knew something was wrong. Bur the tire didn't feel soft. I didn't think it was a flat tire. It was out of control, but it wasn't soft."

Johnson rode it out as crew chief Chad Knaus pleaded him to hold on. It would ultimately be all for naught.

"I lived my whole life for this," Johnson said of his disappointment. "To end up blowing a tire and being out, that's part of it. I'll be back next year."

Johnson made his presence felt prior to the accident, surging from the 32nd starting position into the top 10.

"It was going great," Knaus said. "We were passing cars and running speeds comparable with the guys in the top, even when we were running 25th or 26th. So, he was going forward."

All said, Johnson won four races in 2005, at Las Vegas, Dover and Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he swept both events. He finished fifth in points, 127 back of winner Tony Stewart.

Johnson just missed a wreck with Scott Wimmer on Lap 16. Credit: Autostock

"This is the best team in motorsports," Knaus said. "We can bounce back from anything, easy. We've gone through more trials and tribulations as a team than any other team has possibly tried to overcome, and we have overcome it all. This is a championship-caliber team and it has been since its inception. We'll come back next year and battle for a championship."

But Sunday night stung deep, another title shot ripped from his grasp.

"It's sad. It's disappointing," Knaus said. "You work a long time all season long to get this championship ... and since 2002, we've battled for championships. So as long as we keep doing that, consistency will sooner or later pay off for us and we'll get that trophy.

"It just hasn't been meant to be, yet."