Steering him straight

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

Jimmie Johnson is living every young racer's dream.

Besides driving for one of the top teams in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the 26-year-old rookie has the series' best driver as a mentor.

Four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon has taken Johnson under his wing and co-owns the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that Johnson will drive in Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

So how does Johnson plan to repay Gordon for his generosity?

"If I learn the way that I need to, I can be there beating on his doors every week," Johnson said.

"He's very comfortable with that and he knows that it's going to elevate the level of his team and hopefully down the road I can elevate the level of driver that he is and we can have this battle between us and make us both better."

Gordon, who has 58 victories in nine seasons to go with his four championships, said he and Hendrick formed the team for Johnson as a way to bolster all the teams Hendrick fields, including those of Gordon, Terry Labonte and Jerry Nadeau.

But Gordon said his biggest contribution to Johnson's development is the advice he imparts about life off the racetrack.

"If I feel like I've got something to offer him or tell him that I'm feeling, I'll go talk to him," Gordon said. "If he's got a question, he's over there asking me. We've got a real open relationship and there are no secrets.

"I think that most of the stuff that I'm going to help him out with is off the racetrack ... in terms of scheduling and PR and sponsors, fans, media -- all that stuff that can really cut into your focus."

As one of the most popular drivers on the Winston Cup circuit, Gordon has learned how to juggle the demands of the sport.

"I think if you've got things organized and you kind of know how to expect certain things," Gordon said, "it helps you to deal with it a little bit better and be able to stay focused on what's important, which is driving these racecars as fast as you can."

And Johnson said that Gordon has been nothing but generous with his time since the team was formed last fall.

"Jeff has given me lots and lots of time," Johnson said. "He has been extremely giving and helpful and there for me whenever I need him."

Johnson said that it has not been awkward driving against his boss and competing for the same space on the racetrack -- and the same trophies.

"It has not been difficult from what I've seen so far," Johnson said. "I think the reason why this situation will work right is because Jeff Gordon is very secure with who he is and what he has accomplished.

"I've heard him say a couple times if he is going to lose to somebody -- not that he wants to, by any means -- he would like it to be one of his teammates. I think the key part of this is that he is as willing and giving as he is in this situation because if he wasn't, it could very easily be a bad situation."

In his first two races this season, Johnson has made the most of his association with Gordon and Hendrick. He won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished a respectable 15th in the race despite being caught up in one of the late-race accidents. Last weekend at Rockingham, Johnson qualified 11th, battled an ill-handling car during the race and finished 28th.

Johnson, who is 21st in points coming into this week's race, said he set realistic goals for himself going into the season. "Our goals, first and foremost, are to qualify for every event and then finish on the lead lap," he said. "As soon as we can do that on a regular basis, we'll look at top fifteens, top tens, top fives and hopefully we can be winning races by the end of the year."