Jimmie Johnson Appears On Conan, Discusses Rolex 24 Knife Incident

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR's first Sprint Cup driver to win three consecutive championships in 30 years, made an appearance on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien Monday. On the show, Johnson talked about his recently injured middle finger and made some interesting comments a tremendous 2001 crash he was involved in.



Without a doubt, Johnson's visit to the show took on some extra meaning after his finger injury required minor surgery just weeks before the 51st Daytona 500.

In the appearance, Johnson -- he's still rocking that beard from a few weeks ago -- explained exactly what happened to keep him from driving in the finish of last weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race. Johnson was grouped with Jimmy Vassar, Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty in the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team that finished 7th.

"I'm in between my [driving] stints, I'm going to finish the car for the team which is a big honor. I've had like three hours of sleep during this whole process of the 24 hour race and I get my firesuit on and I'm trying to get to the car [...]," said Johnson. "Like a fool, I grab a kitchen knife out of my motorhome and I'm trying to poke a hole in my firesuit to rush out to the car and knife goes through suit, through finger and I have major damage."

Johnson needed a hole in firesuit for a water cooling system that helps keep his torso cool in the race car. The result was the aforementioned stitches and surgery.

O'Brien felt bad for Johnson but couldn't help but realize the irony in the fact that Johnson, being a race car driver, hurt himself doing some so trivial.

"When you hear a NASCAR guy is coming and that he's injured, you don't expect it to be something the rest of us do while we're slicing a bagel," said O'Brien.

Johnson later talked about a scary ride he took a number of years while in a Nationwide Series race on the road course at Watkins Glen in New York. Johnson was heading into the track's 90-degree right-hand turn when his brake pedal went to the floor. Johnson pounded the foam barrier at nearly full speed. (Watch it here.)

"It's such a weird feeling to go into a corner at a high-rate of speed, push on the brake pedal and nothing's there," said Johnson while describing the incident. "[...] I really thought it was going to take my life. It was a serious wreck."

Thankfully, the massive foam barriers prevented Johnson from suffering any serious injuries and the driver was able to climb from the car, stand on the roof and salute the cheering fans.

What was he thinking upon realizing he had survived the wreck?

"First of all, I was hoping my underwear was still clean," said Johnson.