Rick Minter's OBSERVATIONS

NASCAR Jimmie Johnson recorded his first win of the season at Phoenix, which moved him to fourth in the standings. Drivers call for drug testing

The admission by former Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike that he used heroin on race days last year has some of NASCAR's top drivers requesting more drug testing of racing participants.

Fike, who has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR, made his comments in an "ESPN The Magazine" story. The drivers reacted during interviews at Phoenix International Raceway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. told reporters that if the issue gets enough attention, NASCAR likely will make changes to its policy, which requires testing when there is reasonable suspicion. Most say random testing should be considered.

"If the public were to ask that question, NASCAR's reaction would be to start testing people," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They've always sort of had that style of management, if you will. Once a complaint gets loud enough, they sort of take reaction to it."

Earnhardt Jr. said that would be fine with him.

"I wouldn't have a problem with random drug testing if it's important to the integrity of the sport," he said. "That's what's important to me, and maybe it would be able to help maintain that."

Earnhardt Jr. said he worries that admissions like Fike's might lead to an image problem for NASCAR if there's speculation in the media that drivers are using drugs.

"Let's just squash it, fix it, make a statement with testing," he said.

Kevin Harvick told reporters that changes in the drug-testing policy were needed long before now.

"I had a long conversation with NASCAR the last time we had this policy brought up at the end of the year last year, and it almost seems like it went on deaf ears," he said. "I'm disappointed with the fact that we're in a case where we have to have a reaction instead of being proactive about the situation." Johnson ends 'the slump'

The expectations have become extremely high for Hendrick Motorsports.

Jimmie Johnson's gas mileage victory at Phoenix on Saturday has been described as the end of a seasonlong slump for the Hendrick teams. But it's also true that Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have gotten off to strong starts this year.

Earnhardt Jr. is third in the points standings with three top-five and six top-10 finishes in eight races. Johnson is fourth with a victory and three other top-fives.

"In some ways, we recognize that we haven't been running how we want," Johnson told reporters after his Phoenix victory. "But we finished second at California, second at Texas last week, fourth at Martinsville. Yeah, we haven't won yet, but we're only seven races into this thing."

The two-time defending Cup champion said the situation shows how difficult is it to remain on top in NASCAR.

"The sport is so tough," he said. "Even with the year that we had last year, it's tough to keep that up over the off-season and year after year after year."

SPRINT CUP STANDINGS

1,215; leader 2. Kyle Busch

1,135; behind: -80 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

1,129; behind: -86 4. Jimmie Johnson

1,116; behind: -99 5. Kevin Harvick

1,115; behind: -100 6. Denny Hamlin

1,078; behind: -137 7. Tony Stewart

1,057; behind: -158 8. Clint Bowyer

1,044; behind: -171 9. Carl Edwards

1,041; behind: -174 10. Greg Biffle

1,039; behind: -176 11. Kasey Kahne

929; behind: -286 12. Ryan Newman

915; behind: -300