Jimmie Johnson is looking for his first Watkins Glen victory. Credit: Autostock

Johnson eyeing to make Watkins Glen elementary

Perhaps 2006 is shaping up for Jimmie Johnson much like 2005 did for Tony Stewart.

Johnson's win at Indy last week strengthened his already solid points lead, and while it might not have had the emotional significance attached to Stewart's victory at the Brickyard a year ago, it may very well serve as a watershed moment for the No. 48 team.

	Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Jimmie Johnson at Watkins Glen Year Start Finish 2002 12 16 2003 20 4 2004 1 40 2005 2 5 Average 8.8 16.2

"It's such a gratifying moment to come back and beat something that's beaten us so many times," Johnson said.

That, of course, depends on what happens during the next four weeks as the month rolls from August to September, to dog days as they are that in recent years have seen Johnson's championship hopes wilt away.

"It's too early to say we have broken the pattern," he said, "but you know, this is a great start. I think we are all going to learn together as these next few weeks unfold. We got over a big hurdle; one that has really plagued us in the past. But, it's too early to get confident about anything."

Next stop is Sunday's AMD at The Glen (1 p.m. ET, NBC). Like Indy, Watkins Glen International is another place Johnson comes into this season having never won, although he has a pair of top-five finishes in just four career starts there.

"I love The Glen and think it's a great track for our cars," Johnson said. "I'm really going to be working on myself this weekend. I've just really got to understand what I'm doing and how to road-course race a little bit better so I can eventually get a win."

While Johnson holds a 107-point lead on second-place Matt Kenseth, the sport's three biggest names are trying to hold on to the final three spots in the top 10.

Only 15 points separate eighth-place Jeff Gordon from 10th-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., neither of whom made the Chase last year. Sandwiched in between is reigning Cup champion Stewart.

Stewart has won the past two races at The Glen and three of the past four. Still, Stewart insists there's no big secret to winning there.

"It's just like anyplace else. If you get the combination right you can go out and win. If you miss something and you're a little bit off, you're not going to win," he said.

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"The three races we won there we had a very, very good racecar that drove well all day. In between those races there was a year where our car didn't drive real well and we didn't win [finished 11th].

"It's just a matter of doing the same things you do at any other racetrack. If you get the package right and your driver is good at road courses, then you've got a shot at winning a road-course race."

Gordon has the most wins at The Glen with four but hasn't visited Victory Lane there since 2001. However, he did win earlier this year at Sonoma for a record ninth road-course victory.

"You can't run the exact same setup as you do at Sonoma, but I think that we'll be able to learn a lot from that race which should improve our program here," Gordon said. "This is a very fast road course. There's some big, sweeping, fast right-handers, so you really have to have your car working well. But brakes are important as well, especially getting into the inner-loop after the long backstraight."

A loose sway bar at Indy hindered Gordon's effort at Indy, but his team got the car fixed and he actually made up ground in the standings, moving up one spot in the points.

"It's a tight battle for those last few positions in the Chase, and we can't afford to have those types of problems," he said.

For the first time since the first week of the season, Kasey Kahne finds himself on the outside looking in. Kahne, who's 37 points out of 10th place, has only one top-10 finish since winning at Michigan.

"I think we've made progress with our road-course program and I have improved as a driver," Kahne said. "We are capable of having a good run at Watkins Glen.

"If we get the race performance back to our potential, the Chase will take care of itself. The first step comes at Watkins Glen."