No chance this feud turns ugly

Maybe Rick Hendrick should fire Jimmie Johnson.

As he focuses on getting Dale Earnhardt Jr. back to Victory Lane, Hendrick doesn't want his upstart bad boy causing distractions.

Johnson's maneuvering in the past two Sprint Cup races has angered teammate and mentor Jeff Gordon.

Gordon convinced Hendrick to hire Johnson in 2002, a year after Gordon won the last of his four Cup championships.

Now Johnson is the reigning Mr. Four-Time.

By acting now, Hendrick could prevent a postrace battle royal like NASCAR hasn't seen since Donnie and Bobby Allison tangled with Cale Yarborough after the 1979 Daytona 500.

"Darn it, Jeff, no head punches. Don't want any scars."

"Sure, Jimmie. I'm as handsome as you, so let's leave our helmets on."

Couldn't Hendrick have envisioned Gordon and Johnson, both California natives, one day tiring of each other? It has taken eight years for the hatred and resentment to manifest itself.

We all bought into the brotherly lovefest. But we should have seen the writing on the guardwall.

For the past four years, Gordon -- listed with Hendrick as a co-owner of Johnson's car -- has smiled, and once even bowed to his teammate, after Johnson won championships.

Gordon finally dropped his driving gloves Sunday after a second consecutive on-track run-in with his protege. (Note: Gordon wasn't going to throw a punch; he just wanted to check his manicure.)

Late in the race at Talladega Superspeedway with Gordon's No. 24 Chevy coming up fast on Johnson's left, Johnson moved over and forced Gordon to the apron, slowing his momentum.

Gordon slipped back into traffic and was caught in a multicar crash. He finished 22nd. Johnson crashed with 16 laps left and finished 31st, but it didn't soothe Gordon's wound.

Gordon was so upset he used a "P-word" in a TV interview, and it wasn't Pepsi.

"I don't know what it is with me and him right now," Gordon said. "(He) has been testing my patience, and it's about reached its boiling point. It takes a lot to make me mad, and I am pissed right now."

Johnson took responsibility. "I misjudged the closing rate. We all make mistakes, I'm no different. Certainly, that was my fault. I made the mistake there," he said.

You know that's not truthful; Johnson doesn't make mistakes on the track.

The two-week-old rivalry is their best duel since fighting for hair gel in the Hendrick locker room. Or throwing elbows to get to the front of the eyebrow-waxing line.

Johnson doesn't like finishing second in anything. Neither does Gordon.

It's like a catfight between two runway models, except these boys are better looking.

All the past two weeks have shown is how much Gordon wants to win. When he does, you can bet Johnson will be the first to congratulate him.

And Hendrick will be there smiling, happy he hired both of them.

Jeff Wolf's motor sports column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247. Visit Wolf's motor sports blog at lvrj.com/blogs/heavypedal/ throughout the week.