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It was rather unusual for Johnson, a two-time defending Sprint Cup champion, to have such a bad day, but it certainly wasn’t history-making. Still, as Johnson failed to contend for a fourth consecutive win in the desert, many in NASCAR began to wonder what’s wrong with mighty Hendrick Motorsports.

The team that couldn’t be beat last season is now winless through the first three events of this year. That has sent a buzz through the garage that even Hendrick has heard.

“I’m actually kind of glad everybody thinks we are in trouble,” Hendrick said. “It gives us an opportunity to focus on what we need to do to start winning races.”

It seems rather preposterous to call Hendrick’s start to the season a slump. After all, all four of his cars have run up front at one point or another and it was just last month that they appeared poised to race each other for the Daytona 500 victory.

But aside from victories by newcomer Dale Earnhardt Jr. in two non-points events at Daytona, the cars have failed to find their way to Victory Lane. Most teams would trade anything for the way Hendrick Motorsports has performed this season, but when a team is used to winning everything in sight, the slightest struggles can send a shock wave through the garage.

“I think there’s a lot of hype,” said Jeff Gordon, Hendrick’s four-time series champion. “There’s a lot of expectations put on Hendrick this year, from bringing Junior into the mix. Jimmie had back-to-back championships and we finished second (in the points).

“I feel like it’s just a matter of time before we can win. It’s a good problem to have, people asking you how come you haven’t won yet. That means that they expect it, and so do we.”

Hendrick drivers won 18 of 36 races last season, put three cars in the Chase and were first, second and fifth in the final standings.

This season, Earnhardt is the highest of the Hendrick drivers. With two top-10 finishes — and the Daytona exhibition victories — he’s ranked 10th.

Johnson, who was wrecked out of the Daytona 500 after starting from the pole and had the poor Las Vegas run, is 14th. Gordon is 22nd and Casey Mears 34th.