Jimmie Johnson can drive his car in a circle better and faster than most any other human. When he began racing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup in 2001, the cool Californian was the first rookie ever to lead in the points standings. In 2006 he became the first driver to win the Daytona 500, the All-Star Race, the prestigious Brickyard 400, and a Nextel Cup championship all in the same year. In 2007 he won a whopping 10 races and repeated as season champ. And this year the 33-year-old is in hot contention for a third straight title, a feat that’s only been accomplished once before. So why does racing’s poster boy look so calm? “The fact that it’s only been done once really speaks to how difficult it is, but I don’t feel any more pressure because it’s three,” he says. “I’m more confident than ever.”
John Varvatos coat, $1,695, and scarf, $245; D&G shirt, $275, and tie, $165; Gap trousers, $68.
