Johnson likes what he sees in new crew chief

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- It's been five days since slump-ridden Jimmie Johnson switched crew chiefs again, and the seven-time NASCAR Cup champion likes what he's seen so far of Cliff Daniels.

"The elite level of conversations he and I had, which will lead to resolving issues with the car quicker, I think that spark and whatever that is, carried over to the crew guys," Johnson said Saturday before qualifying eighth on the road course at Watkins Glen in his No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "Just moving the ball further down the field in a shorter period of time. Cliff, as soon as he came back, we just got more done faster."

The 31-year-old Daniels was tabbed on Monday to replace Kevin…