Johnson would welcome Earnhardt

The leading team in the Nextel Cup this year are seen as a primary option for Earnhardt in 2008, but Johnson reckons that his team are just one of the possibilities, as anyone in the NASCAR garages would love to sign Earnhardt Jr up.

"We're used to silly season with the normal drivers, and now with our sport's biggest driver, silly season is going to be ten times larger than it's ever been," Johnson told reporters at Darlington Raceway on Friday.

"I think Jr has done a good job of thinking through what he wants to do in his own private time and he is a hot commodity. There isn't a team owner or sponsor in the sport that wouldn't want to deal with him, so the ball is in his court and I'm sure Hendrick is an option for him."

Johnson admitted, however, that he does not see where Earnhardt Jr would currently fit at Hendrick Motorsports as the team already have four drivers signed up. However, he said he would welcome Earnhardt at Hendrick Motorsports as he would be a great asset for them.

"Outside of the garage area and outside of our sport there's really one or two names that really carry, and I'd have to put Dale Jr and Jeff Gordon in that category," Johnson added.

"Inside the track there's a lot of names and there's a lot of guys that run well and perform and Dale Jr is one of those as well.

"From inside the garage area and with my competition hat, Junior would be a good teammate, Junior would do a lot of things right and be an asset to Hendrick or to whatever team he wants to race for."