2011 NASCAR season is Johnson's to lose

QUICK (no Googling): Name the last NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion not named Jimmie Johnson.

The 2005 titlist was Tony Stewart. Seems so long ago.

Beginning in 2006, Johnson has won and won and won and won and won. With Sunday's Daytona 500, Johnson will launch his bid for a sixth consecutive title. Until he seized control of Cup racing, no driver had won more than three championships in a row.

With crew chief extraordinaire Chad Knaus still guiding Johnson, there is no reason to think he won't be a favorite again this season. Johnson is only 35. While making countless left turns, he's displayed no signs of boredom or of wanting a new challenge, such as surfing or swamp-buggy racing.

While Johnson savors all of these championships, last season's was extremely satisfying, because he had to rally and overtake Denny Hamlin.

"The impact that it's had, with people making comments to me, [has] been big," Johnson said. "We didn't have the pace we needed at a couple of tracks and got behind. Then we went to Homestead [Fla., for the season finale] and were able to close the deal.

"I do have a great sense of pride that we came from behind [in the Chase], and no one has ever done that before."

With two races remaining in last year's Chase, Johnson trailed Hamlin by 33 points. Fifth- and second-place finishes in the final two races enabled Johnson to edge Hamlin by 39 points. Hamlin finished 12th and 14th in the final two races.

"Last year, it was more of a relief and kind of a confidence builder with who we are as team," Johnson said. "Even when things were stacked against us, we can stick together as a group and still win."

Just what Johnson's rivals need to hear - that he has more confidence.

The question is, besides Johnson and Knaus, who will wear the No. 48 Chevrolet team colors? During the eighth Chase race at Texas last year, Knaus switched crews with teammate Jeff Gordon. Talk about bold moves . . .

The decision paid off for Johnson and Knaus. This year, some of the crew members will be interchangeable.

"We've got three of the guys returning from last year, in different positions [and] we have three new guys," Knaus said. "We're hoping it's the same group of guys [each race], but we've got the ability now and depth if we do need to make some changes."

Knaus believes the competition for crew jobs is healthy.

Who are Johnson's top challengers? Once the Chase begins, all drivers are capable of winning a title. Here are three of the best:

* Denny Hamlin. He was thisclose to winning his first title last year. His eight wins topped the Cup series. Led by crew chief Mike Ford, Hamlin has the team to git 'r done this year.

* Kevin Harvick. He led the standings after 26 races entering the Chase, but finished third.

* Kyle Busch. He won a record 24 races last year in the Cup, Nationwide and Camping World truck series. He faltered in the Chase (eighth place) with only one top-five finish. But he's ready for a serious Cup run.

NASCAR is introducing two significant changes this season.

First, a new points system awards 43 points to race winners, 42 to runners-up, on down to one point for the last-place finisher in 43-car fields. Each winner will be awarded three bonus points. Drivers who lead a lap receive one point. The driver who leads the most laps also gets one point. The most points available in races is 48 (note that is Jimmie Johnson's car number).

Second, the new Chase for the Championship rewards race winners outside the top 10 in points. Instead of the top 12 drivers in points qualifying for the 10-race Chase, the top 10 will be in the Chase, while the 11th and 12th berths will go to the drivers with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20 in points. *

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