Crash Test
16 Aug 2000, 15:26
DICK JOHNSON RETURNS FOR QUEENSLAND 500
Australian motor racing legend Dick Johnson announced today that he will return to the wheel of the famous number 17 Falcon at next month's Queensland 500.
The three-time Bathurst 1000 winner and five-time National Champion will once again join son Steve, while Paul Radisich and Cameron McLean will campaign the Shell Helix Racing team's other entry at Queensland Raceway on September 10.
Johnson, who retired from competitive motorsport at the end of last year, was quick to emphasise that this is not a comeback, but a one-off appearance free of the debilitating sinus condition which plagued him throughout his final year.
The Queenslander underwent major surgery last December to correct the problem and has now declared himself 100 per cent fit for next month's endurance event.
"This is not a come back, I'll be doing it this one time only and then that will be it," Dick Johnson says.
"I did the best I could last year, but I was so crook I was lucky if I could see where the road went half the time, and I don't want my last memories of racing to be like that.
"I've had some heavy duty surgery which has fixed the problem and now that I'm feeling well I'd love the opportunity to have one last red hot go."
Johnson admits the decision to return to racing, even for one race, was not an easy one and his team had looked at a number of other options including putting a young driver in the car before making the decision.
"We were in a unique situation where we have four drivers for Bathurst but only three of them were available for the Queensland 500, so we had to try and find a driver who was willing to take one race only," Dick Johnson says.
"Our first instinct was to put a young guy in the car, but with the testing rules the way they are there was no way we could really give someone a fair go.
"You can't take someone out of Formula Ford or Formula Holden and expect them to be on the pace straight away in a V8 Supercar, they need plenty of miles to get the feel of the car and unfortunately we don't have that luxury."
Steve Johnson is excited about his co-driver for the Queensland 500 and believes the pair have a good chance of taking out the race.
"I'm rapt about the situation, it wasn't an option that I had even considered," Steve Johnson says.
"Dad told me he was thinking about it and once I knew that, he didn't stand a chance.
"We ran strongly at Queensland last year and with Dad 100 per cent fit this year I honestly think we can challenge at the front of the field.
"But win or lose, one thing's for sure, Dad's last race will be on home soil and that will be special, I'm going to do everything I can to help him give the Queensland fans something to really cheer about."
Australian motor racing legend Dick Johnson announced today that he will return to the wheel of the famous number 17 Falcon at next month's Queensland 500.
The three-time Bathurst 1000 winner and five-time National Champion will once again join son Steve, while Paul Radisich and Cameron McLean will campaign the Shell Helix Racing team's other entry at Queensland Raceway on September 10.
Johnson, who retired from competitive motorsport at the end of last year, was quick to emphasise that this is not a comeback, but a one-off appearance free of the debilitating sinus condition which plagued him throughout his final year.
The Queenslander underwent major surgery last December to correct the problem and has now declared himself 100 per cent fit for next month's endurance event.
"This is not a come back, I'll be doing it this one time only and then that will be it," Dick Johnson says.
"I did the best I could last year, but I was so crook I was lucky if I could see where the road went half the time, and I don't want my last memories of racing to be like that.
"I've had some heavy duty surgery which has fixed the problem and now that I'm feeling well I'd love the opportunity to have one last red hot go."
Johnson admits the decision to return to racing, even for one race, was not an easy one and his team had looked at a number of other options including putting a young driver in the car before making the decision.
"We were in a unique situation where we have four drivers for Bathurst but only three of them were available for the Queensland 500, so we had to try and find a driver who was willing to take one race only," Dick Johnson says.
"Our first instinct was to put a young guy in the car, but with the testing rules the way they are there was no way we could really give someone a fair go.
"You can't take someone out of Formula Ford or Formula Holden and expect them to be on the pace straight away in a V8 Supercar, they need plenty of miles to get the feel of the car and unfortunately we don't have that luxury."
Steve Johnson is excited about his co-driver for the Queensland 500 and believes the pair have a good chance of taking out the race.
"I'm rapt about the situation, it wasn't an option that I had even considered," Steve Johnson says.
"Dad told me he was thinking about it and once I knew that, he didn't stand a chance.
"We ran strongly at Queensland last year and with Dad 100 per cent fit this year I honestly think we can challenge at the front of the field.
"But win or lose, one thing's for sure, Dad's last race will be on home soil and that will be special, I'm going to do everything I can to help him give the Queensland fans something to really cheer about."
