Two Goodyears blow up on Johnson in 12 laps
The six-time Cup champion, who has a series-high three wins this year, climbed from his car following the accident, which occurred just a few laps after he pitted for a flat left rear tire.
Joey Logano and Aric Almirola both blew left rear tires in practice earlier in the weekend on the flat, 1.058-mile track.
The teams are using the same tire compound they have used since 2012 at the track, but this is the first race there with the no-ride-height rule and new 2014 aerodynamic rules.
Teams often try to balance having low pressure in the left rear for maximum speed but enough air pressure to prevent a failure. Johnson said in a television and radio interviews afterward that it was not low tire pressure.
"I don’t know why the first one went down, let alone the second one," Johnson said in a radio interview after the accident. “I know there has been speculation about teams having too low of tire pressure, the left rear causing that. I promise you it wasn’t our case.
"The first one went, and there could have been damage that caused the second one to go so quickly and explode like it did. But I’m just purely speculating. It was very unfortunate. I had a great car, obviously running very good. I guess I get an early start to my vacation this way."
Goodyear officials disagreed with Johnson's assessment.
Johnson, who started second, likely will finish 42nd in the Camping World RV Sales 301.
Johnson has had tire problems before this season and the team was at odds with Goodyear over the cause.
"I’m expecting people to quickly point back to the team and say it’s our fault, and I guess if it is, we’ll accept it. But the car was fast," Johnson said.