President Bush opens Oval Office to Johnson

Nextel Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was honored Monday in Washington, D.C. for his 2006 championship.

The day began with an Oval Office meeting with President George W. Bush, who congratulated Johnson on his victory. Johnson was joined by team owner Rick Hendrick, Lowe's Corporation CEO Robert Niblock, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR president Mike Helton.

Following the White House visit, the group made its way up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol building where they were greeted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

After that meeting, Johnson and the group made their way across the Capitol for a Senate reception led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Also in attendance to congratulate Johnson was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).