Johnson going to backup car after incident in final practice

Chad Knaus lowers Johnson's backup car off the truck

Add five-time champion Jimmie Johnson’s name to the list of those going to backup entries for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver was on his first lap of the day’s final practice session Saturday when the back end of the No. 48 Chevrolet slid around as he exited Turn 2, sending Johnson into the outside wall.

Kyle Busch had scrubbed the wall in the day’s first practice, and his team spent the break in between sessions preparing its backup entry for the final session.

As a result of the moves, Johnson, who had qualified sixth, will now be required to start at the back of the field as will Busch, who was slated to start on the outside of the front row.

Johnson was able to get in 20 laps in the backup car, and was 24th overall.

Juan Pablo Montoya went to a backup after getting into the wall during practice on Friday. Because the incident occurred before qualifying, the move did not affect the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver’s starting position.

Marcos Ambrose, fourth fastest once practice resumed following Johnson’s crash, spun out of Turn 4 and slid through the grass along the frontstretch. Damage appeared to be minimal to the Richard Petty Racing Ford, however, and he was soon back on the track.

Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing) paced the final practice with a lap of 182.970. Mark Martin (Michael Waltrip Racing), Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing), Ambrose and Martin Truex Jr. completed the top five. Sporting News