NASCAR: Johnson dumbfounded over speeding penalty

Jimmie Johnson led the most laps on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, but a speeding penalty with 34 laps to cost him a chance at Victory Lane.

Johnson was running second to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott on lap 236 when he pulled down pit road for his final stop of the afternoon. He had dominated the afternoon but was caught speeding and ultimately finished 12th.

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This was the fourth time in the last eight races that he's been hit with a speeding penalty and was livid with himself on the radio immediately after serving his pass through. His mood hadn't improved upon climbing out of his car following the finish.

"I just ... I just can't believe I got in trouble down there leaving the pits," Johnson said. "I feel terrible for these guys. It should have been a top-five day but I will back down pit road even more and try not to make that mistake. Hats off to the team for our fast Lowe's Chevrolet. I just screwed up."

Johnson said he was simply "dumbfounded" that it happened, but accepted all the blame.

"You can't argue it," Johnson said."Maybe a mistake on our part somewhere, definitely a mistake on my side, but I by no way shape or form thought that I was speeding. I was probably the slowest down pit road all day just to try to avoid it and got nailed. I will soak on it tonight and come back next week and be at 100 percent again and get ready to take this Lowe's car to Victory Lane."

Johnson left the track eighth on the Chase Grid and nine points ahead of the playoff cutoff but failed the NASCAR Laser Inspection Station. As a result, he might be subject to a points penalty early next week.