Q&A with Jimmie Johnson
Q. What are your thoughts about returning to the race car?
A. I can't tell you how happy I am to get off the couch. If I sit around and eat any more food, drink any more beer, I won't be able to get back into my suit and my race car. We've enjoyed the off-season, celebrated the championship. I'm excited to get back to the track.
Q. A year ago during the off-season you tried to surf on top of a golf cart. Didn't end well. Anything bizarre this off-season?
A. So uneventful. I did play some golf, which was fun. I walked all the courses. I didn't even get in a golf cart, so that was helpful. I had a chance to play Augusta National, which was a killer experience. Had no business being there with my golf game, but it was a lot of fun to see it and experience it. Went to London for the Race of Champions event. Ran terrible over there, but had a great time. And then spent some time down in the Bahamas.
Q. Essentially you're chasing history this year. Cale Yarborough is the only one who ever won three straight championships. What would that mean to you to be in that kind of company?
A. Every year I look for different things to motivate me. In a sense, chasing history is that. I would love to win three in a row and be one of two guys to ever do that. I look at Jeff (Gordon) with four championships and think, you know, I've got a lot of years of racing left in me. Is that a mark that I can get to? Not standing here saying I'm going to be Babe Ruth with this thing, call it, get it done. But everybody needs something to motivate themselves. That's my motivation.