Hendrick drivers ready to welcome Junior to team

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Jimmie Johnson cut through all the idle talk Friday and got to the crux of what it's really going to mean for Hendrick Motorsports to have Dale Earnhardt Jr. on board as a Nextel Cup driver beginning next season.

"I think maybe at Talladega, after the race is over, our racecars won't get beat up now with all the beer cans flying over the fence," Johnson said Friday at Michigan International Speedway, where he and the other Cup drivers, including Earnhardt, were preparing for Sunday's Citizens Bank 400.

Jeff Gordon, another one of Junior's new teammates-to-be once the 2008 season commences, wasn't so sure about that.

"It doesn't mean that I expect people to not continue to boo me. I expect them to boo me in full force," Gordon said. "But it's going to be pretty cool to see him out there in the type of equipment I think we're capable of giving him."

Earnhardt made the announcement last Wednesday that he would be joining the Hendrick organization at the end of this season, roughly five weeks after he announced that he definitely would be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team he currently drives for and will continue to drive for through the rest of the 2007 season.

To make room for Earnhardt, team owner Rick Hendrick and driver Kyle Busch announced that they would part ways at end of this season -- freeing Busch to sign with another team of his choice and leaving the Hendrick driving stable for '08 and beyond to be filled by Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt and Casey Mears.

Mears candidly admitted Friday that he carries, by far, the lowest profile and the least glamorous resume of the Hendrick drivers. But he added that he does not foresee any problems with that; in fact, he insisted that it will be a plus, as he plans to milk the veterans for every nugget of knowledge they are willing to provide.

"I think it will be fine. I think they are superstars on the outside, but all really good quality people on the inside," Mears said. "When you get back to the truck and you're just talking, it's just people. We've all hung out together.

"I think it's going to take a little time. Everything takes time to gel and understand each other. But the fact that we all know each other and are friends is going to make it easier."

There was a time when it seemed Mears might be the odd man out instead of Busch, but that changed in recent weeks. Right about the time Mears was registering his first Nextel Cup victory in the Coca-Cola 600 over Memorial Day weekend, contract extension talks between Hendrick and Busch were reaching a final breaking point.

That cleared the way for Mears to stay even as talks to bring Earnhardt on board at Hendrick suddenly heated up.

"Obviously, if he came, somebody had to go," Johnson said. "I didn't know who was going to leave. I was really nervous about that whole situation and I don't think it's made anyone comfortable. I know it's been real hard on Rick, but he's got to take care of business."

Gordon said that he thinks Earnhardt is the perfect fit for the Hendrick organization, while hinting that perhaps Busch wasn't.

"Put this on the record: I'm pretty sure that this will be the last person he ever drives for," Gordon said of Earnhardt. "I know what kind of person Rick Hendrick is, what kind of organization we have -- and once you come here you don't want to go anywhere else. It's just that good of an organization."

Yet in the end, that is not the conclusion that was drawn by the departing Busch, who said Friday that he thinks it is in his best interests to seek a fresh start -- and no doubt a huge contract -- somewhere else.

"I know it was a very difficult thing to make those decisions, but the way I heard it played out was that it was fairly mutual. I think it's going to be best for Hendrick and for Kyle," Gordon said. "I think Kyle is a tremendous talent, but the chemistry never seemed to be there. He's just had to fight through some things.

"I'm excited to see how he pulls himself together this year because I think he has a lot to offer to teams out there. I think he's going to find out when he makes his move and goes forward that he's actually happier with it himself and more comfortable wherever he goes."

Johnson admitted that he was surprised Hendrick ultimately was able to land Earnhardt.

"I was really surprised," Johnson said. "With driver contracts and sponsorship contracts in place, I just really didn't think it was possible. We all knew that every team would try and make it happen. There was a lot of give and take going on behind closed doors to get this to take place at Hendrick Motorsports, and that's what happened."

He said he called Earnhardt shortly after hearing the news to congratulate him and welcome him to his new team.

"I could hear in his voice how happy and how excited," Johnson said. "He's like a little kid in a candy store right now. ... I obviously support his decision to come to Hendrick Motorsports. It's a fantastic company, a great owner, a great team -- and it's all in front of him. The world is in his hands and he can certainly take advantage of it at our company."

Asked how long he expected the Earnhardt story to be the center of attention around Nextel Cup in general and around Hendrick Motorsports in particular, Johnson smiled before replying with a laugh: "Forever. The next talk will be about the sponsor and then I'm sure it's going to be about testing and then it'll be about the '08 season -- so the buzz will not go away, I'm sure."