Johnson provides more insight to yas marina team

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JOHNSON PROVIDES MORE INSIGHT TO YAS MARINA TEAM-
Written by CompetitionPlus Wednesday, 20 January 2010 11:25
Newly announced Yas Marina Top Fuel driver Tommy Johnson Jr. provided more insight to the new team last evening on Joe Castello’s WFORadio.com. He also shed some light on teammate Hot Rod Fuller’s plans as well.

“I won’t be living in Abu Dhabi, but Hot Rod Fuller will,” Johnson told WFORadio.com. “He’s moving over there to run a drag racing school similar to what we have over here.

“I’ll be getting quite a few frequent flier miles,” Johnson continued. “I’ll be commuting back and forth. I’ll go over a few days earlier and prepare the cars to run. I will then race the cars and stay a few days [after] and prepare the cars for the next race, then come back to the United States. It’s a unique situation and a neat opportunity for those involved.”

The Yas Marina team will be based in and managed at Don Schumacher Racing’s Brownsburg, Ind. shop.

Before heading over for the team’s first race in March, Johnson admitted that he’s been studying the Yas Marina native homeland of Abu Dhabi.

“I’ve done a lot of research on Abu Dhabi,” Johnson said. “Some of the guys from Abu Dhabi have filled me in on a lot of what it is all about. They are a westernized civilization and there’s a lot of diverse culture there.”

Driving for the Yas Marina team will present a new and unique challenge for Johnson, who has represented large American corporations in the past.

“You’re not only representing a team and a sponsor, you are representing a country,” Johnson said. “I am driving a country’s car. I am a United States-based driver driving for another country. I can’t say at this time whether it’s a bit of pressure or pride. It’s certainly not the same as having a corporate sponsor on the side.”

The Yas Marina team will test this weekend at Palm Beach International this weekend, and will then ship the cars to Abu Dhabi.

Their first event will be March 18 – 21 at the new Yas Marina complex.

“There’s a lot of learning for me and everyone involved,” Johnson concluded. “We are learning as we go.”

Listen to the full interview with Johnson at
WFORadio.com - 1-19-2010