Johnson optimistic after Daytona test

Johnson set the fastest single-car lap of a three-day test at Daytona International Speedway, and topped every session until the second day of running when drafting practices started.

The two-time champion says he is keen on taking his second victory on NASCAR's top event, which he won in 2006 on the way to clinch his first title. However, he doesn't see the race as a must-win in order to fight for the championship, having crashed out of it last year.

"The Daytona 500 is the biggest race that we have in the Sprint Cup Series," Johnson said. "If you can come out and win that, it just sets the year off on the right pace, right tone. But you don't need to do that to win the championship. We proved that last year.

"I know there's been other champions that didn't win the 500 and went on. There's not a bigger race and everybody is gunning for it. Then we get into the grind of the season as we move on to the next races."

The Hendrick Motorsports driver says he is optimistic about the new season, although he expects tough opposition from teams that ended last year on a high such as Roush Fenway.

"We feel really good about the year," Johnson added. "I think as a whole, the company is carrying a lot of momentum. But we know it's a new year. We know during the off-season teams were working hard to get their cars right.

"We saw Roush really coming on strong at the end of the year. I would be foolish to sit up here and pound on my chest and say we're going to continue where we left off because I really think the competition is closing up and I think that guys have been pretty motivated over the off-season to get their cars better."

"I anticipate an exciting start to the season. I'm coming into the season optimistic, but putting my guard up and knowing that we've got to work hard and try to find speed and continue to develop the car throughout the course of the year."

Johnson's first race of the year will be at Daytona, but not in his usual No. 48 Chevrolet Impala SS. He will race a Pontiac-Riley Daytona Prototype in the Rolex 24 with last year's event polesitters and Series champions Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing on January 26.