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Jimmie Johnson says the Daytona 500’s two big crashes cannot be fully blamed on the NASCAR Cup series’ young drivers because the veterans push the limits more often.
Seven-time champion Johnson crashed his third car of the Daytona week in Sunday’s race when Ricky Stenhouse Jr triggered a coming together between Johnson’s team-mate Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski.
A total of six cars were taken out in the incident and there was a further big crash when Penske’s Ryan Blaney pushed the Ford of Kurt Busch into the wall with two laps to go, leaving just eight cars on the lead lap afterwards.
Johnson criticised the approach of drivers early in the race.
“There was some great racing throughout,” he said. “But unfortunately, many thought it was the black and white chequered flag and not the green and white chequered flag [for the end of a stage].
“On lap 59 [of 200] to be throwing blocks like that just…a lot of wrecked race cars.”
Video: First major crash of 2018 Daytona 500
When asked if it was a product of young drivers coming into NASCAR, Johnson said older drivers had to share the blame.
“In that instance, it looked like it [was down to younger drivers], but I’m not picking on the young guys by any stretch,” he said.
“Veterans typically cause more problems out there, because we have more confidence and experience and usually create more issues than the young guys do.
“We are going way faster with this rear ride height rule [no limits in 2018].
“Just everything is on edge. It’s a lot of fun, we are flying around here, but it puts handling at a premium.
“It gets us closer to the edge of traction and we are just slipping and sliding all over.”
Blaney was involved in both major crashes in the Daytona 500, avoiding Elliott’s spin unscathed during the first but ending up seventh after triggering the other.
He said he had been caught out by Busch changing line “last minute” when blocked by Denny Hamlin.
“I was on his left rear and I turned him. I feel bad about that,” Blaney explained.
“He kind of changed lanes last minute and I couldn’t react quick enough.
“It stinks, we led a lot of laps. It just wasn’t meant to be. But it was a good showing.”
Video: Blaney triggers late-race crash
Danica Patrick was among those eliminated in the first major crash, ending her final NASCAR race early.
At the time she was running towards the tail of the 15-car lead pack, and said she had been satisfied with how the day was going considering how late her Premium Motorsports deal was secured.
“The car was a lot better than it was in the duel; a lot better than in practice,” she said.
“We pulled this together a month ago – that’s a tall order to get a car ready for a superspeedway and competitive, but it was.
“It just wasn’t meant to be.”
