Six-time series champion will be in New York City on Wednesday to promote the Chase
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MORE: Full rundown of where each driver will be for Chase Across North America
Jimmie Johnson didn't compete in his foundation's triathlon Sunday morning, but that appears to be the only alteration to the schedule this week for the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
Before leaving for New York City on Tuesday, Johnson said his team did find an issue that could have been related to how he felt following his eighth-place finish at Richmond International Raceway.
"The team found an issue with the cooling system for my helmet," Johnson said in a Chicagoland pre-race team release. "Basically, it was blowing warm air. It's nice to have a good idea as to what went wrong and why I got so hot in the race car. It's a newer system that we've implemented, so we're just going back to our old faithful system that's worked for years and years. We should have the problem rectified."
On Monday, Hendrick Motorsports
officials said that Johnson was expected to fulfill his duties as one
of 16 participants in this year's Chase Across North America that kicks
off Wednesday. As part of the media tour promoting the 10-race Chase,
Johnson is scheduled to be in New York City where he will appear on
NBC's "Today" show, NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," the
nationally syndicated talk show "Live! with Kelly and Michael" as well
as "Power Lunch" on CNBC.
The 38-year-old Johnson spent approximately 90 minutes in the infield care center at Richmond International Raceway following Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400, where he was treated for dehydration.
Sunday, the health-conscious Johnson attended The Jimmie Johnson Foundation's latest wellness challenge, the Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon. While he did not compete in the event, he was on hand to greet and mingle with the participants.
Johnson, the defending Sprint Cup Series champion and a winner of three Sprint Cup races this year, finished eighth at Richmond. He climbed from his car on pit road without assistance, but was suffering cramps in his legs.
"I sat in the car and was talking to my guys about the run and having a good race," Johnson said Saturday night after exiting the care center. "I started to cramp a little bit in my legs, so I figured I would just get out of the car and as I climbed out … the cramping got far worse.
"Then standing outside the car I got kind of dizzy so I wanted to sit down. Once I sat down the cramping got worse."
Each of the remaining 15 Chase drivers will be visiting 15 different cities (one driver per city) including Mexico City and Toronto on Wednesday for the Chase Across North America promotion. Every Chase market will feature one of the drivers, with additional appearances in San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York and Bristol, Conn., headquarters of ESPN.
This year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup gets underway Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway with the running of the MyAFibStory.com 400 (ESPN, 2 p.m. ET).
Johnson is fourth in the standings following the resetting of points after the Richmond race. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 champion, is the points leader.
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