JJ's comeback trail, Toyota's silver lining, more

	Jimmie Johnson hopes to put a Daytona 500 that ended after 174 laps behind him as NASCAR heads to California this week. AP

Jimmie Johnson finds himself in an unusual position this week. For the first time in nearly three years, JJ isn't among the top 10 in the Nextel Cup points for the first time in nearly three years. His 105-race streak began March 9, 2004 at Atlanta and ended with last Sunday's 39th-place finish in the Daytona 500.

The reigning Cup champion never came close to the type of performance he showed in winning Daytona last season. He qualified 10th, ran 13th in the Duel 150, started 21st in the 500 and was eliminated on the 174th lap when the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet got loose and hit the outside wall in Turn 2 to instigate a multi-car crash.

Johnson has taken the setback in stride, an indication of his maturity at age 31 and his confidence coming off a remarkable season. He knows it's just one race -- albeit NASCAR's most important -- but it's also one of four restrictor-plate races in a 36-race schedule.

"I think everybody has their own style in the way they approach things," Johnson said. "As the years go by, I find myself much more relaxed in setting the pace that I think I can keep all year long and not burning myself out or over-worry about the start of the season or that particular event. I think experience certainly helps relax the driver and the team."

Sunday's 500-mile race at the two-mile California Speedway in Fontana is far more reflective of what lies ahead this season, and Johnson admits he'll have a better idea of where the No. 48 team is when it's over.

"You certainly carry momentum from race to race and that's a part of it," Johnson explained. "With the Daytona 500 being a restrictor-plate race and then the bulk of the season being based on downforce tracks (such as Fontana), there is a little loss of momentum. The No. 29 (Dayona winner Kevin Harvick) team is definitely going to be on a high coming into Fontana as will be the No. 01 (Daytona runner-up Mark Martin), but outside of that, the season -- in some people's minds -- starts this weekend, so our attitude will certainly adjust after the race."

Johnson has an impressive record in the early-season races at Fontana. His first Cup victory came in '02, when it was run in April, and he's been second the past three years. Johnson has been much stronger in the cooler temperatures at Fontana than in the stifling September heat since NASCAR added a second event three years ago. Johnson has been 14th, 16th and 11th in the early races.