Martin says car reason for his marked improvement (cont'd)

"Experience helps, but the engineering today really makes it a young man's sport. Young and brave," Martin said. "I'm not willing to wreck in practice or wreck in qualifying to hang it all the way out. I'm only going to put it on the line when I have to, where they'll put it all on the line 100 times and only mess up twice."

Martin hasn't messed up much this season, although he actually thought he might have brought his car home with a higher finish Sunday after leading a total of 15 laps and spending much of his day riding in the top-three.

"There were times when I thought our car was good enough to win the race. And even at the end of the race, I thought we had a third-place car," Martin said. "Then on the last restart, I don't know if I had a tire going down or what -- but it got real tight. And we brought it home with a top-five anyway.

"But what a strong team. What a great opportunity. You just don't see guys put together a part-time schedule with a team this awesome."

Ah, yes, there is the matter of that part-time schedule. Martin is scheduled to run 23 races for Ginn this season. He's supposed to split seat time with rookie Regan Smith, who is slated to slide into the driver's seat of the No. 01 Chevy when the Cup circuit races at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25.

But Martin sure is having fun driving, and he keeps leaving the door open ever so slightly to the possibility that he won't walk away as scheduled. He did say Sunday that if he wins next Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, that might change everything.

"I suppose a win might. But the points lead doesn't. I'm not worried about that," Martin said. "I've said it before and I'll say it again -- at this point in my life, it just doesn't mean that much to me. But driving a great racecar does. And I want to tell you, that was a great racecar I drove [Sunday]."

Gordon said no one in the garage is certain what Martin will do. But he said he thinks Martin would enjoy going out on top after four races if Martin can hang onto the points lead after Atlanta -- and that he doesn't think that would be a bad idea.

"I'd take a long vacation. I'd enjoy it while it lasts. I'd say I went out while I was on top," Gordon said. "I don't know, I think he made a decision -- and when he made that decision, things have come along that could be more rewarding to him than leading in points.

"I think it might be a little bit different if we didn't have the Chase. If the Chase format wasn't in there, he might stick around a little longer. But with the Chase, everything changes when you go into those last 10 races of the season. I'm not saying he wouldn't be a factor, because he's done a fantastic job."

Martin made it clear that he fully expects a fantastic finish again in Atlanta, a venue he enjoys.

"I don't specialize on tires or tracks like this one [in Vegas]. My specialty is Atlanta," Martin said.

So if he wins the race in Atlanta, will he run at Bristol?

"I don't have a clue. Please, let's talk about that then," he insisted. "I don't want to run Bristol. Let's talk about that next Sunday. Let's leave my comments where they were -- because they are still what they are.

"I don't have an interest in that race. I also don't have an interest at this time in chasing the points. But I love driving the cars that we have. I love it."