The runion of driver Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus didn't go as expected Sunday at Bristol. Credit: Autostock

First-lap flat tire deflates Knaus, Johnson reunion

No. 48 team 30th at Bristol -- and falls to third in point standings

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Chad Knaus' return to the top of the No. 48 pit box got off to a rocky start Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, but radio conversations between the crew chief and driver Jimmie Johnson brought into focus the team's tenacity in the face of adversity.

	Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Johnson on Sunday Lap Pos. Start 5 25 42 50 41 75 40 100 38 125 37 150 40 175 40 200 37 225 37 250 37 275 35 300 35 325 35 350 35 375 34 400 34 425 34 450 30 475 30 500 30

Knaus was ejected from Daytona and suspended for three additional races after NASCAR found improper changes to Johnson's car following Daytona 500 qualifying. With Darian Grubb taking over Knaus' trackside duties, the team won the season opener, finished second at California, won at Las Vegas and finished sixth at Atlanta.

Johnson, the Nextel Cup points leader entering Bristol, endured a flat tire just after the green flag dropped on the Food City 500, and he fell three laps down while trying to get to the inside lane in order to bring the No. 48 Chevrolet to pit road.

After a restart on Lap 115, Johnson was the first car a lap down and he settled in behind race leader Tony Stewart and in front of Matt Kenseth in second place. Moments later, Johnson whacked the outside wall after coming up the track in front of Kenseth, who was able to avoid getting into Johnson.

Knaus made the call to bring the No. 48 into the pits for repairs, a decision that cost the team double-digit laps to the leaders -- but was necessary in order to keep the car together to run for points for the duration of the race. With the attrition at Bristol, the team picked up no less than 12 positions, or about 36 points.

"Jimmie's car is pretty bad," Knaus said. "During that last pit stop, we got up under there to check out the whole suspension to make sure nothing was going to fall off and it is pretty bent up under there.

"We're just going to do what we can to gain a few more spots out there. These guys keep wrecking and having their difficulties which will give us a few more spots and then we move on to Martinsville."

Back on the team radio, Knaus told Johnson, "Sorry, man, but you're gonna have to find a nice comfy spot to run around for the next 350 laps.

"We're 10 laps down right now and our goal is to stay right there."

Kurt Busch earned his fifth career victory at Bristol. Credit: Autostock

Food City 500 Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Kurt Busch Dodge 2. Kevin Harvick Chevy 3. Matt Kenseth Ford 4. Carl Edwards Ford 5. Bobby Labonte Dodge 6. Mark Martin Ford 7. Greg Biffle Ford 8. Kyle Busch Chevy 9. Ryan Newman Dodge 10. Kasey Kahne Dodge • Complete results, click here • Standings, click here Victory LaneKurt Busch celebrates his Food City 500 win Hot bloodedPost-race tempers boil over between Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth Final lapsKurt Busch rolls to the checkered flag at the Food City 500 Tempers flareSome rough racing goes on between Martin Truex Jr. and Jeff Gordon Early problemsJimmie Johnson has a rough start at the Food City 500 Back at itChad Knaus on how he dealt with being away from the No. 48 team Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Knaus said that keeping his driver's spirits up was the focus. "Jimmie is OK," he said. "That kind of stuff happens at these [short] racetracks. It's a tough racetrack; it's tough racing even if everything is going well for you.

"We'll do OK. Jimmie will be fine and we'll go to Martinsville and go after 'em there."

During a caution on Lap 188 Knaus told Johnson that he was posting good lap times, and Johnson responded that the car was "a little on the free side -- but it's a good free."

When NASCAR red-flagged the race on Lap 193 after a multi-car crash in Turn 4 oiled down the track, Johnson showed that he hadn't lost sight of the big picture: "Think we can keep going to make up our laps?" A few moments later came a request for "a couple of hot dogs."

A crash at the start/finish line on Lap 260 was the next moment of heightened anxiety for the team. Johnson darted to the inside to avoid the melee and rear-ended Casey Mears. "I spun the 42 around and I don't know if I hurt the hood," Johnson told the crew, followed by, "I flat-spotted the tires."

Knaus then began giving orders for the ensuing pit stop -- bolt this, pull that, tires, no fuel -- and once racing resumed, Knaus and Johnson continued to trade info -- and wisecracks.

"Jimmie, just wanted to tell you that before we got here that was the best car in the wind tunnel," followed by a pause. "Was."

A few laps later it was reported that Johnson had just put down his fastest lap of the race, which was immediately followed by an even faster lap.

With just more than 160 laps to go a caution flag gave Knaus the chance to assess the car. "How's the car, bub?" he asked. Johnson said it was loose, but he could handle it. After a brief exchange of possible adjustments the driver answered, "Ah, just leave it alone."

For the rest of the day the team continued to tweak the car. Throughout the remaining green-flag runs he was able to run between 115-119 mph -- just slightly off the pace of the leaders.

"Great job, Jimmie, you're running consistent 16.20s [seconds]," Knaus said.

As the laps dwindled down, the radio chatter was mostly one-sided, with the spotter repeating, "Inside." "Outside." "Clear."

As a result of his 30th-place finish, Johnson surrendered the top spot in the standings to Kenseth, who now leads Kasey Kahne by eight points. Johnson fell to third place, 19 behind.