Johnson trying to regain edge at Charlotte track

CONCORD, N.C. -- The first glimpse of vulnerability came exactly a year ago, when Jimmie Johnson's Chevy grew so tight in the closing laps of the Coca-Cola 600 that he wasn't able to chase down Kasey Kahne. That runner-up finish ended a two-year streak where the only winner in points races at Lowe's Motor Speedway was the driver of the Lowe's-sponsored car.

The track's October event brought an identical result, with Kahne outrunning Johnson at the finish. Now a No. 48 team that referred to the metro Charlotte speedway as its "house" during a remarkable run of five victories in six starts looks to regain the edge it once held over the rest of the Nextel Cup field on the 1.5-mile layout.

"I feel we've addressed some things that hurt us last year in those two races where we ran second," said Johnson, who will start 21st in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. "We've developed some speed there, so I'm really excited."

They developed that speed during the Nextel Cup test held at Lowe's earlier this month, when the No. 48 team worked heavily on the handling issues that hampered its chances of winning last year. The car was inconsistent from the beginning of a run to the end, starting out loose before growing so tight Johnson found it difficult to make up ground. Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus tried to find a balance, so the car would be able to maintain speed at the end of the race rather than falling off.

The Hendrick Motorsports squad saw progress in that regard in last weekend's all-star exhibition, where Johnson was forced to the rear of the field with a fender rub but had enough car to finish second behind Kevin Harvick. Other drivers took notice.

"After the test at Charlotte, it seemed like he was definitely the guy," Kahne said. "He was so much stronger than anyone else. Last weekend, I was really surprised. He just hung out from fifth to ninth for a lot of the race, and I was surprised from watching that. But at the end of the race he always seems to find his way to the front, and he did that again. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had pulled it off. But he's really strong. His team understands the racetrack. He'll definitely be the guy you have to beat if you want to win the race. I don't think there's anybody else who's as strong as him, that's for sure."

How dominant has Johnson been at Charlotte? He finished 39th here in his first Nextel Cup start in 2001, the year before he moved into NASCAR's top series full-time. He hasn't finished worse than seventh in a points event since, and is in the midst of an eight-race streak of placing third or better. This weekend's results have been inconclusive, ranging from fourth-quickest in Thursday's opening practice to 31st in Saturday's first session. Then there was his qualifying effort, which saddled Johnson with his worst starting spot at Charlotte in four years.

That was in the 2003 Coca-Cola 600, where he started 37th. Of course, he also won, recording a victory that kicked off his string of success at the facility.

"I think 600 miles, he's got plenty of time to come from whatever starting position he's at in the middle of the pack," said Elliott Sadler, who will start third. "They're still going to be the team to beat, I think. Chad and Jimmie have this place figured out very well. Chad and Jimmie are always real good on adjustments. It seems like every time they pit, they make the car better for this race as it gets into the nighttime.

"I don't think you can define them not still being the guardian of the gate by just one lap of qualifying. They're still going to be the team to beat, and that's who we're all shooting for. We'll see what happens. This is his house, I think I read somewhere."

At least that's how the No. 48 team refers to Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is right down the street from its Hendrick Motorsports shop and shares the same home improvement store as sponsor. Johnson believes he used the nickname over the team radio, and it stuck. Johnson has been comfortable driving at Charlotte since his first start, and the variety of factors that go into setting up a car here -- especially for a day-to-night event like the 600 -- fit well with an imaginative crew chief like Knaus.

Johnson, driving the same car that finished second in both Charlotte races last season and won at Las Vegas earlier this year, arrived at Lowe's Motor Speedway as confident as ever. But he was only 34th fastest in Saturday's final practice for the Coca-Cola 600, his best lap of 175.798 mph well off the top speed of 179.742 turned in by Carl Edwards. It may be Johnson's house, but other drivers seem to have wedged a foot in the door.

"I don't think they have a strong grip on it by any means," said pole winner Ryan Newman. "I think there are a lot of teams with their fingertips on it. It's just a matter of pulling it away on Sunday."