NASCAR's Scott Speed asks Jimmie Johnson for advice

Scott Speed, the one-time Formula One driver about to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut, is an outspoken and free-spirited Californian who's also widely viewed as very good race car driver.

He's also smart. As Speed, 25, prepares to drive the No. 84 Red Bull Toyota Camry in Sunday's race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, he sought advice from no less than reigning Cup champ and fellow Californian Jimmie Johnson, who leads the standings again this year.

"He's shown to be a great talent," Johnson said of Speed, who prepared for the Cup series by driving in the sport's minor leagues: The ARCA stock-car circuit and NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series.

"Granted, he's been in ARCA and Truck, but he still steps into these vehicles with little experience and has done a great job," Johnson said Tuesday in a teleconference with reporters.

"I had a lot of people give me advice and listen to me and help me out along the way," Johnson continued. "I have no problem talking to people and giving them advice and shooting them straight."

And what of Speed's unabashed personality? "He's being himself," Johnson said. "It may not appeal to everyone, but you've got to give the man credit for being himself."

Johnson, meanwhile, heads to Martinsville seeking to become only the second driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive titles (the other was Cale Yarborough, 30 years ago).

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Driver Scott Speed stands next to his No. 22 Red Bull Toyota truck before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 20. Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

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[DanPar4]

Please take this story off the sports page. Car racing aint' a sport, sport. spit...