That again has people buzzing about an apparent inequity in the current points system. But Kahne doesn't see it as a controversy.

``The way I look at it, I don't care what they do with the points,'' said Kahne, who made the Chase for the first time in the three years the system has been in existence. ``Right now, (the championship battle) is so much more exciting than it was four years ago.

``You can have five wins and still battle if you're not consistent enough. The championships that Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt won, you have to be consistent. I think that still should be some of what wins the championship.''

Asked if he agrees with critics who say that NASCAR should reward race winners with more points, Kahne shrugged, saying, ``I would say you could lose a lot more by falling out of a race by having an engine failure or a flat right front (tire). All types of different things can hurt you, and a win doesn't help you as much as you can get hurt by other situations.''

He said that ``maybe a few more points for a win'' would be good.

``Maybe that makes that guy get in comfortably or, if you have the most wins and you're within so many points (of the leader), you're in,'' Kahne said. ``Winning should mean a lot. It means a lot to the fans, the drivers, the teams, but it's not a huge benefit in the points.''