Jimmie Johnson's Crew Chief Chad Knaus Not Attending NASCAR Daytona Test

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars took to the Daytona International Speedway track on Thursday for a preseason test – and Chad Knaus wasn't there.

In fact, he wasn't even in the country.

The five-time champion crew chief for driver Jimmie Johnson decided to take a vacation to Africa and miss the three-day Daytona 500 preparation, leaving car chief Ron Malec and engineer Greg Ives to run the test in his absence.

"Chad's basically on vacation, I guess," said Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief. "We all take vacations. I took one in December; he's taking one now. It's a long year, and it's hard to fit one in."

Letarte, who is paired with Knaus in Hendrick Motorsports' No. 48/88 shop, said he's "taking a few more trips down to the 48" to check on the team but isn't concerned about his fellow crew chief's absence.

"(Malec and Ives) are more than capable of running this test," Letarte said.

Johnson told the Associated Press this is Knaus' first real vacation in nearly a decade.

"Chad had such a great opportunity to go on a great vacation and really do something for himself," Johnson told the AP. "When he asked me what my opinion was, I was like `Buddy, if upper management clears it, I think you have to do it.' I took that vacation and it was good for me. He needs that. So I am real happy he is taking the time."

Said Letarte: "It's important to unplug. I think it's good for everybody to recharge their batteries. ... There's really nothing to read into it."