Jimmie Johnson

APTOPIX NASCAR Tallad_Hasc.jpg

Tony Stewart (14) flips over as Kasey Kahne (5), Clint Bowyer (15), Dave Blaney (36), Terry Labonte (32), Regan Smith (78), Jeff Burton (31), Jimmie Johnson (48), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Paul Menard (27) and David Ragan (34) crash around him during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Dale Davis)

20120730-183917-pic-829336484.jpg

associated press Dale Earnhardt Jr. has benefited from being a Rick Hendrick Racing teammate of Jimmie Johnson, Sunday’s winner of the Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis and the points champion every season from 2006 through 2010.

20120729-190840-pic-876513854.jpg

associated press Jimmie Johnson kisses the yard of bricks after winning the Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as daughter Genevieve Marie, 2, looks on. Johnson also won at the Brickyard in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

20120603-183512-pic-719033588.jpg

Jimmie Johnson needed just 21 career starts to win seven times at Dover, compared with 46 starts for Richard Petty and 35 for Bobby Allison. Johnson, a five-time Cup champion, has 57 victories overall. (Associated Press)

NASCAR Daytona Media _Hasc.jpg

Auto racing driver Jimmie Johnson answers questions during an interview at NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

20111116-174936-pic-367729407.jpg

Jimmie Johnson has 55 victories and $108 million in winnings to go with five consecutive Sprint Cup titles. (Associated Press)

20110907-210930-pic-969611045.jpg

ASSOCIATED PRESS Five-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson presents driving gloves to President Obama at the White House on Wednesday. Mr. Obama honored Johnson and seven other drivers from last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup series.

20110417-190401-pic-432273954.jpg

Jimmie Johnson (48) crosses the finish line 0.002 seconds ahead of Clint Bowyer (33) to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, tying for the closest finish ever. (Associated Press)

APTOPIX_NASCAR_Daytona_500_Auto_Racing.sff.jpg

The cars of Andy Lally (71), Brian Keselowski (92), Joe Nemecheck (87), AJ Allmendinger (43), Greg Biffle (16), Michael Waltrip (15), Matt Kenseth (17), Jimmie Johnson (48), Mark Martin (5), Brian Vickers (83), Marcos Ambrose (9), and David Reutimann (00) crash during the Daytona 500 NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Glenn Smith)