Former 'Rainbow Warrior' returns to Hendrick.

Hendrick Motorsports welcomed former 'Rainbow Warrior' Chad Knaus back into the fold on Friday, naming the Illinois native to the position of crew chief for Jimmie Johnson's #48 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevrolet for his rookie NWC campaign in 2002.

Knaus worked on Jeff Gordon's #24 car from 1993-97, advancing from the position of general fabricator to manage the chassis and body construction program for the four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion. Serving as a tire changer on the original 'Rainbow Warrior' pit crew, Knaus shared in two of those championships (1995, 1997).

In returning to Hendrick Motorsports, Knaus again will report to Gordon, an equity owner in the #48 Lowe's team with Rick Hendrick.

"It just feels really good," said Knaus, who spent last season as a crew chief for Stacy Compton at Melling Racing. "I've always liked Jeff and (team manager Brian Whitesell). It's nice to know I have people I can talk to who I feel will be receptive. They know how I like to do things and I think that gets everything off to a good start."

Knaus also is comfortable with his new driver, having spent an afternoon on the golf course with Johnson, getting to know the rookie driver.

"Well, neither one of us is very good at golf, so we spent most of the time talking in the woods looking for lost balls," Knaus said. "But we're close to the same age, we like the same kind of music, the same kind of food and we both love motorcycles - although we've both been reminded that we are under contract and we aren't to be caught riding them.

"It's so important to have a relaxed relationship with your driver away from the track," Knaus continued. "Sometimes that's where you get your best information. Just sitting around having dinner and talking, you can come up with something you might not have thought of at the race track. I'm really looking forward to working with Jimmie."

Knaus has spent the last few days at the new Hendrick Motorsports building that will house both the #24 and the Lowe's No. 48 programs next season, and the 30-year old will officially report to work on Monday.

"The new shop is amazing," Knaus said. "I worked for [Dale Earnhardt Inc] in 1998 and at the time he had the shop everyone was talking about. This place puts Hendrick Motorsports first and foremost in the racing business."

Hendrick welcomed back his former employee with open arms.

"It's great to have Chad back," said Hendrick, who has amassed five NASCAR Winston Cup Series titles and three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships over the past seven seasons. "He was instrumental in building the #24 team in the early days and through two championship seasons. He's very strongly motivated and has worked with some really good people here and since he left in 1997 to pursue his dream of becoming a crew chief. We're lucky to have him."

Knaus knows both he and Johnson will be expected to perform and he is ready for the challenge.

"I'm sure it will be tough for Jimmie, knowing that he is sitting in Jeff Gordon's race cars," Knaus said. "The first half of the season, we are going to concentrate on making races, getting solid finishes and being around at the end of the race. The second half of the season we hope to be able to turn it up a notch, grab some top-fives and a pole or two.

"Jeff really set the standard for rookies coming out strong," Knaus added. "Drivers like Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. and (Kevin) Harvick have kept it going. I really think Jimmie is going to be in that elite group of drivers. I'm very excited about our future."

Knaus will not be the only new face calling the shots at Hendrick next year as Gary Dehart a long time on and off crew chief for two-time champ Terry Labonte stepped down from his position to assume another role within the huge Hendrick organisation to be replaced by another former Hendrick man Jim Long. Long had been working with Hermie Sadler's part-time team in 2001 and prior to that Long has worked for Ultra Motorsports with Mike Wallace, Bessey Motorsports with Geoffrey Bodine and Stavola Bros with Hut Stricklin.

Labonte endured a nightmarish 2001 season with DeHart as crew chief and finished a miserable 23rd in the points standings with just three top ten finishes in 36 starts.