© 2002-2006 Dwight Drum
Story and photos by Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen
Interviewers:Dwight Drum & Debbie Speicher

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Teleconference Moments
2006 season

JIMMIE JOHNSON                                           CHAD KNAUS

Driver, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet            Crew Chief, No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports

Jimmie Johnson Speaks Out

"You can't buy or create it. It's just something that you have."

After leading in the points for most of the 2006 season the 48 team challenged then took the lead in the "Chase for the Championship" with solid comeback wins and consistent finishes. A steady performance during the Ford 400, the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earned Johnson and team the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship.

Even Jimmie Johnson can't explain everything about the nature of their resiliency. "We've had bad days that we've turned into good days," Johnson said. "We have a lot of confidence in one another. We do falter, we do make mistakes, but we just stick with it and never give up and I think it shows up."

Johnson also explained how the crew works now in comparison to a few years back. "Chad in the past with a young crew was worried and was looking over every shock adjustment, every nut and bolt, "Johnson added. "He was so occupied with it trying to help this young group of guys not make mistakes. He spent a lot of time doing things he didn't need to be on top of, so there's a lot more trust, a lot more responsibility left in these guys' hands to get the car prepared. Where we can just sit and talk about race car stuff, which we need to."

Jimmie talked often about his team and his philosophy throughout the year. A Cup driver leading in the points probably fields a total of questions equal to pass play attempts in an NFL preseason. Select answers from a worthy champion point out the dedication and drive a champion must have.

A question and answer from a worthy champion, Jimmie johnson:

Very few get to repeat a No. 2 championship finish and you're definitely an expert there, too. Can you comment on how being an almost champion compares to being a champion?

"There's no comparison. There's a lot of motivation being runner-up and being so close to it especially getting to the banquet and all things during banquet week watching the champion experience all the great things, setting on stage. I think anybody with a competitive spirit wants that to be them. The last four years watching the ceremony highly, highly motivated me. I remember Rick and I talking last year during the banquet. It stinks being here down on the ground level. We want to be sitting up on that stage getting all the praises.

"So, it was a very motivating experience to say the least."

Select questions and answers prior to winning the championship:

Do you feel champions have common traits and abilities, and if so, can you identify a few?

"I definitely think the drive to succeed is a common one. If you look at the champions over the past few years, they all have different personalities -- from Kurt (Busch) to Tony (Stewart) to Matt (Kenseth). But there is a drive inside that is common to every champion. I would even link that to other sports. The drive to be a champion is pretty common."

You seem to put bad breaks behind you fast and move on. Did you learn that from getting close to championships or did your bring that mind set to Cup from past experience?

"I think just past experience. I've always raced 20 or 30 times a year on motorcycles to ASA and all the different forms of racing I've been in. A good year is winning two or three races. So you have more letdowns than you do highs and you've just got to learn to deal with things. In racing, a lot of crazy things happen. Experience in dealing with those things have helped me overcome them today."

Is that a given that you have that attitude during the week with your team, or must you stress it?

"No, each situation is different. There are things that are easier to get over than other things. On our team, we all feed off of each other and we feed on each other and spend a lot of time with each other. If we're down and out, we sit around and talk about it and help each other it. If we're having a good time, we enjoy the moment and then realize we need to buckle down and get to work. So we kind of feed off of one another."

Is there a difference with you and your team when you're leading in the points or when you're chasing the points?

"You try not to have a different mind set or act differently, but I think when you're in the lead you can't help but defend a little bit. When you're especially down and out as far out as we've been, there's a defense in your strategy for your offense. I think there are some subtle changes. You try like I said to not be any different, but I do think there are some small ones."

You and your team are known for rebounding. Can you compare the challenge of the task ahead of you now to past challenges?

"It's what the whole season's based on, is becoming the champion in our sport. We've got a huge challenge ahead of us. I don't think it's an impossible challenge. I don't think it's something that we're shooting for the moon on. It's something we're going to have to go out and work hard for. That's no different than anything else we've done."

Does your team, more so than any other team, seem to feed on adversity, they're so able to come back after having a problem?

"It's hard for me to give an honest opinion on that because I'm pretty biased. I think the world of my guys. I think they're the best at everything. History shows that we're good at that stuff. We'll just kind of leave it there."

Do you do anything special to transfer confidence during tougher times, or do you just do what has always worked?

"I'm real honest with my guys and let them know where I'm at and what I'm doing and what I'm going through. I don't believe in things are bad and they're tough to sugarcoat it and tell them it's all going to be better and not to worry. I'm very honest with my guys. If I'm down I express it. We go on. If they're down they do the same. We're just real honest with one another. Through all of that I'm an optimistic guy and I know this team is capable of great things. I'm honest and we usually seem to pull through."

You look like you are having fun, are you?

"I have the most fun in the car."