Jimmie Johnson finishes 12th in first Chase race

They opened the Chase for the Sprint Cup by proving just that Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Nico Rosberg hung on for the narrowest Formula One victory for six years to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, celebrating his 200th career start in flawless style as he reclaimed the championship lead from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Having to pit under green for a flat tire with about 200 laps remaining and then having contact with Kevin Harvick limiting their performance, Truex put himself in position to win when a late caution resulted in a two-lap dash to the finish.

But like Johnson, he found some solace in the speed of his No. 24 vehicle.

“Certainly we’re hoping for that”, Busch said earlier this week. “I feel bad for these guys. Now let us go race and worry about Chicago”.

“Not necessarily championships will flow my way like they did for Johnson where he won five in a row”. We didn’t have the speed we have now. “This week we had it for sure”, Johnson said. We hadn’t been around each other all day, really.

As stated, Busch has done that plenty in his career and this season. With three wins this season – equalling his total in his first 12 Cup seasons, Truex is in command and waiting for the next restart that matters – at Charlotte in Round 2 of the Chase. Drivers get three bonus points for winning in the opening round, which consists of three races. Johnson finished 12th, but his auto also failed laser inspection and he could plummet in the points standings.

While Truex celebrated, several drivers opened the Chase without the racing luck they would have wanted.

“It’s been a good vehicle for us”, crew chief Cole Pearn said while prepping for the 10-race, 16-driver Chase for the Championship.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg celebrated his 200th Formula One start by taking victory in the Singapore Grand Prix and regaining the championship lead from teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Chicagoland is a 1.5-mile track, the intermediate-size venue FRR and Truex have dominated. I don’t think we were going to pass him unless he got loose or made a mistake.

There were positives to take away from the almost-win.

“Kyle is an emotional guy and I like that emotion that he carries with him. I know what he’s going through”, Truex said. So Kyle has always had the physical skills, and now he’s got the mental skills to succeed. Truex could be docked 15 points, but the win locks him into the second round.

“We just haven’t been very consistent and haven’t really gotten the finishes for just all kinds of different reasons, which is good and bad”, Kenseth said. “For me, there isn’t a whole lot outside of racing”. “If that is the answer you are looking for, it isn’t what you are going to get”. He would love to become a multi-time champion in the sport.

Johnson, who turned 41 on Saturday, is going for his seventh series title, which would tie the record for NASCAR’s top circuit held by Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

Busch would like to join that exclusive fraternity before his racing days are over.

“I expected it (the caution)”, Elliott said. “Making the move to the outside was the only one I was presented with”.

“This is a mental game”, Logano said. “We’ve raced it twice and it’s been on the pole both times”.