Johnson's domination shows readiness for Chase

FONTANA, Calif. -- In the wake of all the Kyle Busch-Carl Edwards bumping from last week, Jimmie Johnson was asked earlier in the weekend about his intimidation tactics.

He didn't hesitate. He said he's not a trash talker. He said he's not a guy who uses practice to ride the bumper of a competitor to get him thinking. Johnson's answer was quite simple, borderline boring.

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"My form of intimidation is to be the fastest one in practice, sit on the pole, up there leading laps and the guys saying, 'Damn 48 is up there again," Johnson said. "That's where we operate at our best."

After Sunday night, that's hard to argue.

Johnson, who started from the pole, led 228 of 250 laps in his dominating victory at Auto Club Speedway (watch video). It put an end to any chance of him sliding under the radar when the Chase begins in two weeks. Bonus points? He's got 30 now. That will start him third in the Chase as of Fontana. Busch says those points are what will be the biggest factor in winning the championship, which is to be expected -- he's the points leader and has 80 bonus points.

But Sunday night exposed Johnson. With just two victories heading into Sunday's race and positioned behind two bickering championship contenders and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Johnson was abnormally unheralded as he tries to join Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three consecutive Cup championships. A 17th-place finish at Michigan and a 33rd at Bristol the last two weeks -- both races that Carl Edwards won and Busch finished second -- didn't help.

Sunday, however, was Johnson at his best.

He was strong in the sun. He was strong under the lights. When he was out front, nobody could catch him. When he was in traffic, nobody could keep him in their mirror.

On Lap 162, his four-tire pit stop dropped him to sixth when Greg Biffle and others took just two tires. The race restarted on Lap 165, and three laps later Johnson was in the lead again (watch video).

On Lap 182, Johnson lost three positions on pit road when his jack man got his leg caught in the air hose. On the Lap 186 restart, Johnson was sixth. A lap later he was third. On Lap 189, he was the leader. (Continued)