He remains the four-time defending Cup Series champion.

He may have finished 25th in last Sunday's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- the first outing in the 10-race Chase. But Jimmie Johnson is a long way from being finished in his personal quest for a fifth consecutive title.

He talked about the pressures he faces entering this Chase, but also waxed poetic on some other off-the-wall issues that prove he is calm and relaxed as the championship hunt continues.

“

It doesn't matter to me if the only lap we lead is the last lap at Homestead [in the season's final race]. As long as we get it done, I couldn't care less.

”

-- JIMMIE JOHNSON

Q: Did crew chief Chad Knaus open the Chase with any kind of special pep talk?

Johnson (laughing): Chad loves to talk. He'll take any opportunity to talk. But seriously, he's a really good leader. He can get a bit emotional at times and get everybody wound up -- but he's a great leader.

I've seen him change mentally over the last two weeks leading up to the Chase. It's just a mind-set. I see it coming. He's not as quick to fly off the handle about things and he's much more controlled.

Q: Do you enjoy shooting commercials with Chad?

Johnson: I'm getting more comfortable with it as time goes on. It's just not something you grow up doing. Some people take to it quickly. They're comfortable and relaxed and all that right away. I'm not like that. But I see the progress that I've made over the years. I'm much more happy with the relaxed Jimmie I see there now [on television] after we're done. They know me well now, and which spots work better for me and which spots work better for Chad and that kind of thing. That's made it a much better experience.

Q: Denny Hamlin has had a great year, Kevin Harvick has had a great year. Do you still feel as four-time defending champion that you were the target heading into this Chase?

Johnson: Not really. In the world I live in, it's who has been collecting the points. Denny and I have been in a similar situation where we've run pretty hot and cold. So I still look at the 29 [of Harvick]. Regardless of the track, they've collected a ton of points. Then you look at the 99 [of Carl Edwards] and he collected a lot of points over the last 10 races [of the regular season]. Those guys have been consistent.

I want to go out and be that guy with the target on my back and kind of earn that. Two third-place finishes heading into the Chase was a step in that direction, but it was not like winning a couple of races to really set these guys back a little and make them start thinking that I'm really the one to beat. (Continued)