Knaus isn't concerned about expiring contract
Jimmie Johnson re-upped with Hendrick Motorsports last year. Crew
chief Chad Knaus, an equally important part of the team that has
won four straight Cup championships, hasn't extended his current
contract beyond 2010.
Knaus, however, is convinced his deal will get done in due
time.
"The contract deal will get done at some point," Knaus said.
"I'm signed up through the end of 2010, and it's not on the
forefront of my mind right now. What's important to me right now is
just getting the cars built, getting to Daytona and getting the
season back in place. Once the contract negotiations start, then
we'll worry about that."
Johnson and Knaus are viewed as an inseparable combination,
but Knaus said he could envision working with another driver --
just not any time soon.
"We really enjoy working with each other -- and why change
it?" Knaus said. "Will I at some point work with another driver?
Yeah -- I mean, more than likely. Will he work with another crew
chief? Yeah, more than likely. Let's be honest. He's younger than I
am. He's probably going to drive longer than I want to be a crew
chief.
"Am I in a managerial role somewhere else doing something, or
am I in a managerial role here working with these other teams? At
some point, yeah, I'll be working with other people. Do I hope that
he's always a part of my relationship with Hendrick Motorsports?
One hundred percent. I'd love for that to be the case.
"There are no guarantees in life. You don't know what's going
to happen years down the road. I feel like I've got four to six
more years that I can do this, and then that's it. Then I've got to
go and do something else. Now, hopefully, that go-and-do-something
else is here."
