Jamie McMurray: Everybody has days like Jimmie had at Talladega," Jamie McMurray said. "It makes for good reading. When Dale Earnhardt was aggressive, it seems like there were a lot of cheers in the stands.
Jeremy Mayfield says that, as hard as Johnson has been driving, he might not remain the Nextel Cup points leader much longer.
"It's just been a couple of things that have happened, but it looks like he's putting people out...." Mayfield said. "At Bristol, Jimmie just punted Jeff Burton. You expect that every now and then. But you come back and apologize.
"That deal with Tony Stewart at Phoenix? I couldn't understand that. Just driving right into the back of him? And to see that same thing with Burton?
"In both wrecks last week, he was in the middle of both of them. I'm not really sure what's going on.
"That's not aggressive driving," Mayfield said. "I don't know what you'd call it. I never saw Dale Earnhardt do that kind of stuff. Dale Earnhardt would kind of nudge you and wouldn't really wreck you."
Johnson, who will be one of the favorites for Sunday's Dodge Dealers 500 at Darlington Speedway, has his own ideas about his sudden notoriety.
"I think I was lucky not to get involved in things the last three years, and now I'm getting three years worth of stuff all rolled up into a month," Johnson said. "It's not comforting, it definitely takes its toll on you. But it makes me think harder about who I am.
"It is uncomfortable being in the middle of bad press. I was doing the best job I could in each instance, and still stuff happened. It's racing."
Johnson says that he has just been racing hard and that he will continue to do so.
"The last weekend (at Talladega) there were a lot of ingredients in what went on, and a lot of opinions," Johnson said. "I don't think it's any one person's fault. It's just racing. When you're dealing in inches, stuff happens.
So basicly Jimmie Johnson is driving these days like Earnhardt used to., or according to Mayfield.... worse. However, all the Johnson/Gordon fans always say Dale was a dirty driver. Now that their driver is driving like Earnhardt used to, it's ok?? Johnson says it's just racing.....
