Knaus has no plans to leave Johnson, 48 team

Johnson also touched on any concerns of friction between him and Knaus after the Texas win.

"You guys ask me questions in here about us raising hell with one another on the radio, but that's part of the process," Johnson said in his post-race victory press conference. "That's one thing that has been good about us. We've always been able to be honest with one another and say tough things. Sure, you might not want to hear it, it might sting a little bit. But it's what has kept us together for all these years."

Johnson and Knaus have teamed up for six Sprint Cup Series championships and 68 wins (two of Johnson's 70 wins came while Knaus was suspended at the start of the 2006 season), but the partnership has had its moments, including a testy exchange during the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month and the infamous "milk and cookies" meeting organized by team owner Rick Hendrick after the 2005 season.

Johnson was eliminated from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup following the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The following week at Martinsville Speedway, Johnson said he had no desire to make a change.

"When Chad decides he's had enough of being the guy on the box, it'll be his decision to step down. As far as I'm concerned, we've made it 13 years with this thing, and I want to see it go as long as it can. … This is really more of a timeframe when Chad says someday, 'I've put in my time here as crew chief, and I need to slow down a little bit.' "

This year has been a bit uneven for Johnson and Knaus. They have four wins, but have not dominated in the fashion that was their trademark in recent years. Johnson will have his fewest top-fives since 2006 and is on pace to lead his lowest total of laps in three seasons.

Following three wins in a four-race stretch in late May to mid-June, Johnson went 18 races without a win, one of his lengthier dry spells between visting Victory Lane. Knaus admitted following the Texas triumph that the winless streak had his confidence low.

"I hate losing more than I enjoy winning. Obviously going through this stretch has been difficult. We've looked for answers. Haven't found them. We've lifted every stone to try to figure out how to get the 48 car to run a little bit better throughout the course of the season. I think we got blinded a little bit by our own just misguidance.

"It was difficult. My confidence was definitely low. I know Jimmie's was definitely low. You know, look, winning cures a lot of things, but the proof is in how we react beyond this point, how we go to Phoenix, how we produce there, how we go to Homestead, how we race there. Those will be the true tales of where we're at."

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