BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Jimmie Johnson admits saving gas in a fuel mileage race is not one of his strengths. Turns out the four-time Cup Series champ struggles with the same issue in his personal car.

"Between the span of the two [Michigan International Speedway] races last year I wasn't paying attention in my Tahoe," Johnson said. "I guess I ignored the bell or buzzer telling me I was low on fuel and we were late going to the airport trying to get to a race ..."

“

The crew chief is yelling at you every lap to save fuel, but you're not slowing down enough and he knows it because he's looking at the stop watch.

”

-- TONY STEWART

Long story short, the car shut off. Johnson was out of fuel.

"I heard about it from my wife then and still today. I'm pulled over on the side of the road ... it was amazing how many people were angry that I was out of fuel on the side of the road," Johnson laughed. "I had an older lady shoot me the bird which I just couldn't believe."

One wonders if Johnson felt like shooting crew chief Chad Knaus "the bird" after losing two of the past three races at Michigan International Speedway virtually to fuel mileage or lack thereof.

"Last year after the first one there was lot of hope we would make it to the end of the race and we came up two laps short and the next time I knew the lap we pitted on I knew what was going on," Johnson said. "The next race it was a similar situation. I could tell in Chad's voice he didn't believe what he was telling me, that we were going to make it. But I had to try and I was just waiting and knew what was coming and sure enough ran out of gas."

There is nothing more agonizing than trying to save gas in a fuel mileage race coming to the green flag. It can be a no-win situation as the driver is trying to go forward to pass the car in front him and at the same time trying to hold off the guy charging from behind. (Continued)