Johnson missing Knaus despite start

Johnson has scored two victories and a second place in the three Nextel Cup races held so far this season.

His latest victory came yesterday in Las Vegas when he overtook Matt Kenseth on the final corner to win the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400. The only lap he led all day was the final one.

All three races were directed by stand-in crew chief Darian Grubb, because Knaus was banned by NASCAR for a total of four races after Johnson's Chevrolet Monte Carlo was found to have an illegal adjuster on it following Daytona 500 pole qualifying.

Grubb, a former chief mechanic with Johnson's teammate Jeff Gordon, has made a remarkable start to his crew chief career, leading to suggestions that Knaus should not resume his crew chief role when his ban ends following this weekend's race in Atlanta.

However, Johnson insists the penalty is in fact hurting the team, and he cannot wait to have Knaus back.

"It hasn't been as easy as it looks, I promise you. We're learning as we go and expanding in our positions," Johnson said. "Between Darian and I, we look at each other and gauge by each other's intensity and we say all right, let's try this - where Chad says we need to do this.

"It's been good for us to expand and learn. It's making this race team stronger and me a better race car driver and leader. It's making me more sensitive to what's going on underneath me in the car.

"Chad is a huge asset to this race team and has built this team and has been at home working on the races ahead of us so we're prepared and ready when we get to them. We're looking forward to having Chad back. But we didn't think we'd be in this position."

Crew chief Grubb, believes much of the credit for the performances is down to Knaus' preparation of the team.

"We feel disadvantaged by NASCAR's decision. I'd definitely say so," Grubb said. "Chad's leadership is second to none. We really miss that. But then it's also given us a chance to expand on our role.

"We get to grow within our positions and it makes us a tighter team so we really cannot wait until Chad to get back to put his leadership back in his team.

"But in a way I guess I have to thank NASCAR for this. Chad's at home seven days a week working on these cars. It's pretty easy to unload fast when you've got a mind like that back at the fabrication shop working on it.

"It makes my decisions easy. I can look back at past history and use Jimmie's input and then talk to Chad at night and just see if he's agreeing with the changes we've made."

Grubb has suggested however that is could be worthwhile investigating a system where one crew chief calls the shots at the race track but is backed up by someone else back at the factory watching the race on television.

"That's definitely been talked about," Grubb added. "A lot of people see how the Formula One races go. You have to have a huge team of people to call a race correctly.

"It's nice to have technology and all those things going on, but you have to have someone seeing the things in person."