HOMESTEAD, FLA. — Rusty Wallace has a lot of respect for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. But this whole friendship thing between the title-contending teammates baffles the retired NASCAR champion.
“I think that’s one thing to how they respect each other, but I personally think that this year’s been pretty darn trying to both of them,” Wallace said. “How do you treat your teammate nice and with respect, because you’re wanting to kick his butt?”
Somehow, four-time champion Gordon and reigning champion Johnson have been able to draw the line between their on-track rivalry and the friendship that helped put Johnson in an elite ride at powerful Hendrick Motorsports.
It was Gordon, already established as a top star in NASCAR, who raised Johnson’s name with Rick Hendrick when the car owner became serious about starting a fourth Cup team in 2001.
“The reason why I suggested Jimmie to Rick Hendrick is because he impressed me before he was ever in a Cup,” explained Gordon, the co-owner of Johnson’s No. 48 car with Hendrick. “It’s pretty awesome to see it come from way back then to where it is now and see how he’s matured.”
Johnson goes into Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a big edge – four straight wins and an 86-point lead over Gordon. If Johnson finishes 18th or better, he wins the title, regardless. If Gordon finishes 15th or worse, he cedes his friend the trophy.
So, do the two champions ever get annoyed with one another? “The only thing he’s irritated me with is that four (wins) in a row here lately,” Gordon said, laughing. “I mean, I’ve got a 5.2 (finishing) average (in the Chase for the championship) and I’m 86 points down going into the final race. That irritates me.”
Johnson looked a little sheepish when asked to reply to the same question.
“I really can’t think of anything about Jeff that irritates me,” he said, shrugging.
