The same approach would be understandable for Sunday's Ford 400 if not for the fact Johnson views his 108-point lead on teammate Mark Martin as precarious and because he's still having flashbacks of his early wreck and 38th-place finish at Texas two weeks ago.

So, despite needing to finish 25th or better to nail down an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, he reiterated his all-out strategy — with a caveat.

"In years past coming down here, it's been a goal then as well," Johnson said during a news conference with him and Martin sandwiching team owner Rick Hendrick. "I don't think that we have had this track under control as a company. We've been close, but Hendrick Motorsports has not won here yet. We hope to change that on Sunday."

If Johnson succeeds, it would mark the first time a Chase champion has won the finale at Homestead, one of two 1.5-mile tracks (with Chicagoland) he has yet to conquer. Five finishes of ninth or better in eight starts suggests it's within his realm.

Separating Homestead from those similar-length tracks is its variable banking, a challenge Johnson said is further complicated by the absence of testing and its single date. His plan is to qualify near the front today (he won the pole here two years ago before finishing seventh), which makes it easier to avoid trouble.

That doesn't totally mean playing it safe, though.

"There's a window in which I'm willing to take a risk," he said. "If I can slide the car around a little bit and be within my comfort zone, have a shot at winning the race, I'm going to take it. But I'm not going to push it over that limit and spin this thing out on my own or put myself in harm's way. ... Everything in my eyes points toward trying to win the race. That's what we're here to do."

Martin has a similarly solid record in South Florida. Like his teammate, he has five runs of ninth or better, but has finished fourth or higher four times with a slightly higher average finish (12.0 to 13.625).

Martin, 50, is no doubt motivated to win his first title and become Sprint Cup's oldest champion.

"We really don't have a lot to lose," Martin said. "If something went wrong for him, then the pressure would be on us to not only capitalize and perform but not have something go wrong. Our race is still on for third and fourth; we still want to finish the strongest we can and wind up wherever we can."

		Jimmie Johnson can win a fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title by finishing 25th or better Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. By Jennifer Stewart, US Presswire