Johnson hints at NASCAR format changes; seeks continued improvement - MotorSportsTalk

“Format changes” were the buzzwords of Jimmie Johnson’s first media availability of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, even if the six-time champion didn’t bite on exactly what they were.

Earlier this week, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France hinted during an MRN Radio interview potential format changes could come either in terms of points adjustments or race start times. Still, to Johnson, that doesn’t change the goal.

“From being in the car, it doesn’t change the driver’s mindset much,” Johnson said. “It might take someone from roughing ‘em up to dumping them. I think it’s more about perception. But looking at it and putting more weight on winning, it’s not going to change what I do.”

Johnson hinted at new qualifying adjustments for 2014. NASCAR’s road course race qualifying structure has already been announced, but nothing has been said of the remaining 34 races although the possibility exists single-car qualifying could be axed.

“Qualifying will be far different,” he said. “I thought I knew it and then Chad (Knaus, crew chief) brought me up to speed. The last I heard about it was at a town hall meeting, and then I disconnected.”

Johnson estimated he may need to “perfect things” a bit more in qualifying, rather than settling for compromise.

Of course, this availability also represented the first time the media had a chance to ask about the possibility of a record-tying seventh Sprint Cup title, a storyline that will no doubt rule the headlines all of 2014.

“I haven’t put much thought into it yet,” Johnson admitted. “If the opportunity is there, that reality will be hard to put out of my mind.”

Also of note: Johnson has at least one other test scheduled before Speedweeks, and in terms of improvement, Johnson says each member of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet unit at Hendrick Motorsports can correct things year-on-year. For Johnson, he said knowing how to judge restarts – after his Dover faux pas last year – was something to work on.

He’s not a guy to rest on his laurels, and that relentless pursuit of perfection has kept him at the head of the NASCAR field year-on-year.

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

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