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Johnson should get credit now

The Associated Press

Jimmie Johnson is boring to some, but his greatness on the race track is taking on historic levels.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2009

HOMESTEAD - Jimmie Johnson isn't responsible for the recession, global warming or unfairness of the BCS.

Nor is he at fault for NASCAR's sagging attendance, flat TV ratings or the fact that none of the more colorful characters can keep up with him.

As he gets ready to likely collect a record fourth consecutive championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway - he won the pole Friday - you might think otherwise.

Brian Vickers, who raced with Johnson at Hendrick Motorsports and against him with Red Bull Racing, took up the issue without prodding.

"I don't know what it is about our sport, but you go watch Tiger Woods play golf, (Roger) Federer play tennis, or you watch the Yankees win another World Series, and it is celebrated throughout the industry.

"For some reason, when that happens in our industry, everyone asks, 'What's wrong?'"

Johnson is on one of the greatest runs in NASCAR's 61-year history. His success has spanned the introduction of a new race car, the arrival of global juggernaut Toyota and several tweaks to the championship format.

He has been the consummate champion, representing his sport with class and dignity, and treating everyone with respect.

And what does Johnson get? Dismissal. Lack of appreciation. Blame for sucking the life out of the Chase.

The guy deserves better.

The problem with Johnson begins with the fact that there is no problem.

NASCAR's new Dominator isn't blustery or hot-headed. He isn't reckless on the track. He avoids controversy like it's a spun-out Kyle Busch sitting in the middle of the track.

OK, bad analogy.

Johnson has perfect diction and a perfect wife. He is good-looking, clean-cut and always neatly attired. He's thoughtful and insightful in interviews, if a bit company-line oriented.

All of this leads to the perception that he is bland, which he isn't. He's a former motocross and off-road speed demon who still has a daredevil streak and a fun side.

He just isn't Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., or even the still-polarizing Jeff Gordon. He isn't somebody who is going to put rival into the wall - even if he needed to Sunday to keep 50-year-old teammate Mark Martin from becoming NASCAR's oldest champion.

"But should we discount him for that?" asks ESPN analyst and 1999 champion Dale Jarrett. "Because he doesn't create problems? Because he doesn't have to go spin people out and he makes passes the right way, and when he can't make them he settles for the spot behind them instead of knocking them out of the way?

"I just don't think everybody out here, for them to be considered one of the best in the business, has to be a bad guy. Because Earnhardt (Dale Sr.) had a more aggressive style than Jimmie, does that make him a better champion?"

You move on to the fact that Johnson drives for the best team and gets the best cars and engines, and it leads to the expectation that he should win championships.

Maybe he should. But Gordon gets the same cars and engines, and he hasn't won a championship since 2001. Dale Jr. gets the same cars and engines, and he's a fully vetted 24th in the points.

"All of our cars are the same," team boss Rick Hendrick noted. "All of the chassis are built in the same place. All of the motors are within five horsepower. So it comes down to the driver and the crew chief."

The crew chief would be Chad Knaus, and he may well be the smartest in the business, but I wonder if he'd still be a genius with Casey Mears.

Twenty years from now, Johnson's accomplishments will be appreciated and romanticized. Johnson will be enshrined in that new Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., and crew chief Chad Knaus will be running a four-car Honda team.

It's too bad Johnson doesn't get that kind of love now.

"He's just a very humble person who has a tremendous amount of talent," Jarrett said. "And he comes to work and does his job. I think there's something to be said for that."

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