Johnson’s Q&A with AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer:

Q: What did you think of the Talladega race? Everyone worried so much about it because of the debut of the Car of Tomorrow, and it seemed to be pretty uneventful.

JJ: “I think that everyone was so worried about the package we were using that people were very, very conservative. There seemed to be different groups racing, and I am sure it was a boring race to watch on TV. But I hope NASCAR doesn’t think it’s the package that made it boring. It was the fact that all of us were scared at this time of the year, with the Chase going on, so we decided to chill out.”

Q: Jeff said after the race that he was yawning in a race car for the first time. And your other teammate, Kyle Busch, asked for an energy drink to help stay awake. Explain to me how it’s possible to be driving in close packs at almost 200 mph and be bored.

JJ: “Honestly, there were times where I felt like I was just driving down the interstate, following the car in front of me. It really was just like that, driving down the road mindlessly following the car in front of you. I think the track is just so big and speed doesn’t faze any of us.”

Q: You and Jeff chose to lay back for large portions of the race, and both of you waited until late to move toward the front. How was that?

JJ: “I thought it was kind of easy, but I saw where Jeff said it was really tough for him to do. But I looked at it like I had never finished the fall race there, and when we got to a certain point of the race, I had already upped my average. We just wanted to finish, and that’s the strategy we had to play to make sure we did. Racing with the big picture in mind helped pass the time. I’ve left there so many times bummed out, that finishing where we did was well worth the lack of entertainment.”

Q: We head to Lowe’s Motor Speedway next, a track you pretty much own. But you decided to get a mini-vacation in before. What are you doing?

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JJ: “We came down to Sea Island in Georgia to spend a couple of nights and it’s been great. Channy and I played some tennis today, and I beat her. Wait, she doesn’t want you to print that.”

Q: Too late.

JJ: “Well, she wants you to know she let me win.”

Q: Do you guys play tennis a lot?

JJ: “Actually, this is first time both of us played tennis all year. We just got up and decided we’d try to get some exercise.”

Q: Are you guys any good?

JJ: “No. Not at all. But we didn’t hit any over the fence, so that’s a start.”

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