Jimmie Johnson says he doesn't consider himself as having an advantage entering the two events at LMS in May. Credit: Autostock

Johnson searching for speed at LMS testing

Sadler, Stewart lead Wednesday speeds as testing concludes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After four consecutive victories at the same track, honing an edge wouldn't seem to be so critical to Jimmie Johnson. But faced with a newly paved surface at Lowe's Motor Speedway, the current master of the 1.5-mile tri-oval will take all the testing laps he can turn.

	Jimmy Johnson tested Tuesday and Wednesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
	NOT THE ANSWER? Several drivers say the combination of a small fuel cell with Goodyear's harder compound doesn't make sense for 600 miles.  •   Complete story, click here

"Track's different, tire's different," Johnson said Wednesday prior to the second day of a Nextel Cup Series test at LMS. "It's really a learning curve right now. I don't feel like we have a huge advantage or that we're going to come in here with the momentum that we may have had in the past just because so much has changed since we were here last time and won."

Consider Johnson's Lowe's Motor Speedway resume:
• Three consecutive Coca-Cola 600 wins -- the series' longest event
• Four consecutive victories -- including the fall events in 2004 and 2005
• One victory in the 2003 Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge.

No wonder, then, that his opinion is sought.

But following the track's offseason re-surfacing, and a new Goodyear tire compound formulated for that fresh asphalt, Johnson and his team are re-stocking their databases this week along with 47 other Cup teams.

Wednesday marked the second day of a two-day session at LMS, which hosts two points-paying events -- the Coca-Cola 600 on May 28 and the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 14. Lowe's Motor Speedway also will host the non-points Nextel All-Star Challenge on May 20.

Originally scheduled as a three-day test from Monday-Wednesday, the sessions were cut to two days because of Monday's rain-delayed Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Still, there is much to learn.

Johnson was among five drivers who participated in a Goodyear tire test at Lowe's on March 29. His day ended early after a tire went down and Johnson hit the wall, but this week's session has yielded more information. A harder tire compound and a smaller, NASCAR-mandated fuel cell for LMS events have heightened the learning curve.

"We are working through some things," Johnson said. "We aren't really pleased with the way we ended up [Tuesday] night. We felt like we were learning some things, but some teams were a little bit faster than us. We've got some work to do [Wednesday], looking forward to getting on the track and making the most of it."

This week's Lowe's Motor Speedway test marks the fourth of six designated 2006 tests for Cup teams. This year, NASCAR has scheduled those tests as a cost-containment measure at tracks that host series events, and those dates are the only test opportunities at those tracks. The two remaining tests are at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson said not to expect record speeds during the two Lowe's events later this month, partially because of smaller fuel cells to be used in the May events (13 gallons rather than the usual 22 gallons), but principally because of the new tire.

"It has a harder compound, less grip," he said. "We have less grip through the center of the corner and the ability to go fast is way down."

Yet the No. 48 likely will retain the favorite's tag heading into the Nextel All-Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600.

"You know, obviously I hope that I can come back and win another 600, but it's too early and too difficult right now to place a favorite, I think," Johnson said. "After [Wednesday], I think we can form some opinions by looking at the speed charts and go from there. I don't think we have an advantage like we may have had before."

Sadler, Stewart top speed charts

A Ford and a Chevrolet topped the charts following Wednesday's afternoon session.

Elliott Sadler led all drivers with a top speed of 181.622 mph (29.732 seconds). Tony Stewart was second at 181.385 mph (29.771 seconds).