Johnson, Team Lowe’s Take Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. (May 1, 2006) – It might’ve been a day late, but Jimmie Johnson made sure his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team didn’t fall short at Talladega Superspeedway. Johnson charged to the point with just two laps remaining to post his second consecutive restrictor-plate win in Monday’s rain-delayed Aaron’s 499. The victory moved him back into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship lead after nine of 36 races. Hendrick Motorsports’ restrictor-plate program proved to be strong, with teammates Johnson, Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon simultaneously running in the first, second and third positions in the closing laps. Vickers finished the event in third, with Gordon 15th and Kyle Busch, who was involved in an early accident, 32nd. Gordon and Busch held their positions in the driver standings, at sixth and ninth respectively. After notching his first top-five finish of the year, Vickers moved up five spots to 14th overall.