The Jeff Gordon-Jimmie Johnson rivalry may now be a full-blown feud.
Gordon and Johnson were involved in an incident for the second straight Sprint Cup race, leaving the pair of four-time champions and Hendrick Motorsports teammates needing to repair more than some cars.
They might have to patch up their differences — again.
“The 48 is testing my patience, I can tell you that,” Gordon said Sunday. “It takes a lot to make me mad. … I don’t know what it is with me and him right now.”
Gordon was making a run to the front when he was forced by Johnson to the apron late in the race. Gordon connected with Scott Speed — Jeff Burton also was collected — and the No. 24 headed to pit road.
“The 48 decided to change three lanes and keep me from going by him and that’s just not cool when a car’s going that much faster than you,” Gordon said. “Maybe he just didn’t know.”
Gordon and Johnson also tangled on the track last week at Texas Motor Speedway. HMS teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 13th, downplayed any friction.
“These guys laugh and joke at the stories in the media about it,” he said. “Both of them want to be champions. … Everybody butts heads once in a while. (Team owner) Rick (Hendrick) ain’t gonna let ‘em do too damn much.”
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