Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon Battle May Be Just What NASCAR Needs

by Holly Cain
Fanhouse.com

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- All weekend Hendrick Motorsports teammates and four-time champions Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson insisted their simmering rivalry is one of "healthy respect."

They smiled on Friday and promised that "everything is fine" and the rough racing between the two last week at Texas Motor Speedway was just an inevitable result of two highly-motivated champions wanting the same thing: to win a race.

But that good will and respect was put to another test at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday where a close call between the two of them left Gordon angry and not inclined to mince words or drop euphemisms this time.

"I can tell you the 48 (Johnson) is testing my patience,'' Gordon said of an incident between the two late in the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race. "It takes a lot to make me mad and I am pissed right now.''

"He's been testing my patience and it's about reached its boiling point."

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