“There's no telling how things are going to go in Homestead,” he cautioned. “I know how good Jeff Gordon is, and I know how good his team is. If we put our guard down and don't try to score maximum points every week, we're going to get beat. I've been doing my part for the team and giving 100 per cent driving my butt off, and if everybody gives 100 per cent we'll get what we want. To have ten [wins] really is a surprise to us, but I need every point. The rest will fall into place.
“This certainly does take some pressure off, but we're going to go down there and try to keep it simple like we've done up to this point, just go out there, run our race and do our thing. I'm just trying to enter each race optimistic and not get caught up in things. We're getting it right and we're just rolling. We're going to take full advantage of that and try to do it one more time. I heard that no one's won five in a row – let's try to get that!
“If we just race the #24 [at Homestead] we will be in good shape, but that isn't our modus operandi. We want to be racing up-front. Jeff is a true champion, a great friend and team-mate. It has been a heck of a battle and I know it isn't over yet. He will go to Homestead and give me all he has got."
Johnson admitted to being somewhat taken aback by the staggering success he has achieved behind the wheel of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet over the course of the year, a sentiment shared by crew chief Chad Knaus, a man instrumental to his title challenge.
“It was obviously a phenomenal race,” Knaus enthused of his charge's performance. “The Lowe's Chevrolet was great all day, and Jimmie did a great job of driving.
“Quite frankly, the biggest reason we're successful in the Chase is the work regiment we have at Hendrick Motorsports. The time we're able to give them [the crew] to have time off to get rested, and the work ethic that Jimmie has, I think pays dividends.
![Jimmie Johnson celebrates his Allstate 400 victory. [Pic Credit IMS Media/Dana Garrett]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/252486.jpg)
