Knaus never lost faith as Johnson fell in standings while prepping for Chase races

Jimmie Johnson's crew chief never thought his race team was anything but a top-notch outfit.

Chad Knaus knew all about Tony Stewart's incredible run to the top of the Nextel Cup standings and read about Roush Racing putting all five of its drivers in NASCAR's Chase for the championship.

But Knaus wasn't worried.

"I'm not really sure what the perception is outside this team," Knaus said after Johnson took the points lead Sunday with a victory in the MNBA 400 at Dover International Speedway. "I know the perception inside of the team, and that's that we are a championship team, and we've been waiting for the final 10 to get here."

Now, just two races into the Chase among the top 10 drivers, Johnson is the one who must be caught. And if last year is any indication of how strong he can be at the end, the rest of the elite could be in for a tough ride.

Johnson won four of the last six races in 2004 and finished second in the season finale to lose the title by eight points to Kurt Busch.

"One big factor is testing," Knaus said. "We've been saving our test sessions."

Johnson didn't use of one of its nine allowable tests at Dover, instead using information from teammate Kyle Busch, who finished second.

Johnson's team made a decision for a pit stop under caution late in the race to make a four-tire change. Leader Mark Martin, pitting at the same time, went with two tires. Johnson passed Martin on the 375th lap of the 404.

"I knew we were in good shape once we got going on a long run," said Johnson, who credited Knaus with making the decision on tires. "Chad said four was going to be better, and it worked out."

Just before the halfway mark, Roush Racing topped the scoreboard with Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Martin and Matt Kenseth running 1-2-3-4. There has never been such a finish of teammates in NASCAR history.

Johnson, who started fifth, led 134 laps in the $5 million race.

Rusty Wallace, who was honored by the track before the race in his final season, finished third. He is second in the points race, seven points behind Johnson.

"I'm having better runs than I've had in a long time," Wallace said. "I want to go out on top of my game, and I'm doing that right now."