Jimmie Johnson

These and other subplots are explored and summarized below, combined from a variety of interview sessions that took place this past weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway:

Johnson kicked off the 2006 season by winning the Daytona 500. He later took victory at the fabled Brickyard 400, on the way to winning the season championship. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon agreed that winning those two races and the championship could be considered NASCAR's Triple Crown.

"Heck yeah, that's one heck of a year," Gordon said. "These are years you dream about. Jimmie and I talked a little bit this weekend when we were traveling back and forth to the race. One of the things we did talk about was that it's been a dream season if they could pull that off, the championship. I mean you can't do it any better than that - the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the championship. That's pretty awesome.

"He's had one of those championship caliber years. You know, the Chase just makes things more challenging and sometimes no matter how great of a season you've had it doesn't always mean you're always going to win a championship. So for those guys to win the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and have the type of season they've had and to win (the championship) and the seasons they've had in the past. They've been so close. I'm just proud of Jimmie. He's a great friend of mine and one heck of a race car driver."

Gordon went on to encourage Johnson's new role as an ambassador for the sport.

Jimmie Johnson

"I think he'll be one of the best champions we've ever had because he cares so much about it," Gordon said. "It means a tremendous amount to him. He's a great spokesperson. He's comfortable in front of people and the cameras. I think that Jimmie is really going to help take our sport to another level and going to be a great representative."

Johnson said he'll relish the role as well: "It's a huge honor to represent our sport and to be the champion. It's going to sink in and I'm really, really going to enjoy this experience. I've been jealous the last four years watching the different champions go through banquet week and the things that go on, and I've just wanted to be in that position.

"Now I'm in that position and it's just going to be a huge honor and a lot of fun and I'm going to make the most of it, have a great time and represent our sport to the best of my ability. It would be a huge honor because this is the biggest form of motorsports in our country and the biggest sport here."

Johnson also appreciates how others in the garage area look at him.

"I look forward to next year just in the garage area, just the respect the champion gets," he said. "I know as I've looked at the 20 (Tony Stewart) and the other guys, and just the way the garage interacts, that they have a lot of respect for the champion, and I can't wait to experience that.

"This one is for all of the 48 lovers, for fans. I've had a lot of support and it was a tough time for us, we learned a lot as a race team, a lot of boos, but as the season has gone on, it's really changed and I think people have noticed the hard effort I've put in, myself, Chad, Rick and there's a lot of respect there that I appreciate."

Johnson gave praise to Chevy, his Lowe's title sponsor, team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Chad Knaus among many others for a championship season. But he especially thanked his wife, Chandra.

"There's somebody very special behind me and that's my wife," Johnson said. "They say behind every good man is a good woman and you have no idea how good she is. I've worn her out the past few weeks with my emotions and stress. I love her. And I thank her (plus) my family and friends and everybody who has supported me through the years. This is just the most amazing day of my life."

When Johnson was first exploring NASCAR racing more than a decade ago, he eventually tapped Gordon on the shoulder for some advice. That talk turned into a long-term relationship.

"I don't like to take much of the credit because Jimmie is a heck of a race car driver," Gordon said. "Somebody was going to pick him up and I'm just really thankful that the opportunity presented itself to us. I mean I give Jimmie a lot of the credit. He came to me you know, and just asked me some opinions about car owners and teams and what his next move should be and I was really kind of blown away for him to look up to me in that way and to come tap me on the shoulder and ask me for that advice. It just so happened we were thinking about building a fourth team at Hendrick Motorsports. I went to Rick Hendrick and said 'Rick, what do you think of this Jimmie Johnson guy? I think he's got a lot of talent and I think if we put him in some good equipment he could do some great things.'

"Rick asked if I was willing to put my money where my mouth is and I said yes I am," Gordon chuckled. "That's where the partnership kind of came together."

Johnson was having a solid career in off-road racing when he came to Gordon, knowing there were more opportunities ahead that he couldn't ignore.

"I look back and I remember as a kid, I was racing dirt bikes and I wanted to be like Rick Johnson, and Bob Hannah was big at the time and Jeff Ward and those guys, and that was my goal, to race motorcycles," Johnson said. "I did that for a while and through all the broken bones, got off the bikes and found my way into the off-road buggies through a lot of work for my dad. He gave me that initial start. Once that got going, I really had to reform to get my next break and keep things moving on. It just seemed like such a long road ahead of me.

"NASCAR was not on the network television stations like it is now. I went to Riverside once when I was young, actually watched Mr. Hendrick drive, walked all the way around the track, hung out around the fence and ate hot dogs as kids do. It seems so far away, in southern California, I watched Rick Mears, Bobby Gordon with Indy cars. With Chevrolet's guidance my career started to develop and they were pulling out of IndyCar, and at that point, I thought, wow, I'm going to go into stock car racing but I still didn't realize I had eight years ahead of me still, maybe nine years, before I found my way to where we are today.

"So it's just been a long road, and I'm a realist and I have high hopes, but I just didn't really think that I could get this car from where I came from. It's just such a long, long road, and it's been a lot of people that believed in me. Just looking back on this, celebrating and moving forward, I'm going to continue to thank and remember names. It's been a long, long road and a lot of people have believed in me and given me this chance."

Few will forget the fateful day in October 2004 when an airplane carrying 10 people tied to Hendrick Motorsports died in a plane crash on the way to Martinsville, including Rick Hendrick's son, Ricky. The elder Hendrick indicated that this 2006 championship, and the racing community in general, helps the healing process.

"I think this (championship) is really special," Hendrick said Sunday. "Everything was very emotional after the crash and in 2004 and losing my son and my family members and brother and Randy who was such a big part, Jeff Turner, everyone on that plane and organization; to give Jimmie and Chad, just give the whole organization credit for pulling together stronger and more determined to honor those that are not here by working hard and giving me the strength to keep doing it.

"And Linda is here, my wife, and we went to (Hendrick) Motorsports I think a week after the accident and when you walked in, you knew that we had to go on. It's been a rough couple of years, but I appreciate all the support from the whole racing community. (This) is a special day for the organization to show that the strength of the ones that are here that can carry on and carry the torch. And I'm real proud of them and I appreciate what they have done."

Gordon also commented on the situation: "Well honestly I think Ricky was probably one of the first guys that pointed out Jimmie Johnson to Rick Hendrick. I think they gave him a ride home from a race or something one time and I think at that time Ricky said to Rick 'Hey, this guy is somebody you may want to hire one day.' There's a lot of those moments that come back into your mind when a moment like this happens.

"I know how proud Rick is and I know much he would have loved to share this with Rick, with John, with family members that were lost. He's excited. It's a great moment but I know how much better it could have been and we're just going to try to make the most of it and just try to keep a smile on Rick's face because he deserves it. He's a great car owner. He provides all of us with everything we could ever ask for and to have three cars in the Chase and all four of them in the top 15 and one is the championship, that tells you what kind of organization we have."

Chevrolet drivers took four of the top five positions in the Nextel Cup Chase to the Championship. Along the way, Monte Carlo SS drivers collected 23 wins, a new season record for the brand. Chevrolet easily locked up the 2006 Manufacturers' Cup with Kevin Harvick's victory at New Hampshire International Speedway, back in September.

"Winning Chevrolet's 26th modern era NASCAR Nextel Cup manufacturer's championship and today our 20th driver's championship is a testimony to the excellence of Team Chevy's people - the drivers, teams, engineers and support staff who make it happen," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "We are so proud of our teams for their hard work, and once again demonstrating why Chevrolet is America's brand both on and off the track."

Denny Hamlin, in the FedEx Express Monte Carlo SS, capped a remarkable rookie season with a third place finish at Miami to claim the 2006 Raybestos Rookie of the Year crown. His two victories (both at Pocono), eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes landed him third in the final standings.