Bring on 2015: Will new rules package help Jimmie Johnson rebound?
I know it's sometimes hard to believe that even though he won four races this past season, probably no one will be happier to see 2015 get here than Jimmie Johnson.
Despite the four wins, the No. 48 team just never seemed to get their arms around the new rules package for 2014 as some of the other teams did. 2014 was the worst year of his career simply because Jimmie is a six-time champion and his bar is set so high. In his entire career up until this season, Jimmie has never finished lower than sixth in the points. In 2014 Jimmie finished 11th.
Now that we have another set of changes coming in 2015, I think Jimmie and his camp can't wait to give it a try.
Obviously ,as I always tell you, the real measuring stick won't be until we get to the second race of the season at Atlanta in 2015 because like always the restrictor-plate tracks like Daytona have its own set of rules separate from what the teams will use the majority of the season next year. Atlanta, being a 1.5-mile track will be a good place to see where your downforce program is early in the season.
Jimmie has said publicly that the 2014 rules package simply didn't fit his driving style. The new rules package will be taking downforce away from the cars, which really takes the setups back to nearer what they where in 2013. Then the other X-Factor for everyone is the less horsepower next year. So that's somewhat of a wild card in itself.
The No. 48 team is a group that never panics. They'll just have to work with what they have and see how they stack up against the competition. Unfortunately for them and everyone else, because of the no testing rule in effect for the 2105 season, no one will really know what they have until the second, third, fourth, and maybe even fifth races of the year.
VIDEO: NASCAR reveals 2015 rule changes
