FONTANA, Calif. -- There isn't much that can cheer up a disappointed Jimmie Johnson as quickly as a trip to Auto Club Speedway.

Heck, the way Johnson has acted this weekend at the 2-mile track, you wouldn't know by watching the four-time defending Cup champion that he's coming off a 35th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. He has been mostly all smiles, and Saturday's Happy Hour did little to darken his mood when Johnson's No. 48 ranked third-fastest on the speed chart.

"I'm buying into it and finding some silver lining in all this," Johnson said.

The fastest car during Saturday's final practice session was the No. 5 of Mark Martin, Johnson's teammate at Hendrick Motorsports who turned his fastest lap in 181.726 mph when he got around the track in a crisp 39.620 seconds. The only other car faster than Johnson, whose fastest of 39 laps was timed at 180.687 mph, was the No. 33 fielded by Richard Childress Racing that is driven by Clint Bowyer and turned his top lap in 39.802 seconds at a speed of 180.895 mph.

The top laps, after Martin, Johnson and Bowyer, were turned by Jamie McMurray, Daytona 500 champion and pole sitter for Sunday's Auto Club 500 (180.628 mph, 39.861); Jeff Gordon (180.153 mph, 39.966); Jeff Burton (179.686 mph, 40.070); Brian Vickers (179.681 mph, 40.071); Juan Montoya (179.627 mph, 40.083); Denny Hamlin (179.556 mph, 40.099) and Scott Speed (179.448 mph, 40.123).

It was easy for Johnson to enjoy his fast practice times. But he said he came into the weekend feeling relatively OK even with his poor finish at Daytona -- perhaps because he has been in this exact position previously.

Last year, in fact, Johnson finished 31st at Daytona and then rallied for a ninth- place finish in the second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway, righting his season. He was 27th in the Daytona 500 in 2008 and second at California; 39th in 2008 and third at California in 2007. (Continued)