Is Jimmie Johnson Still Peeved At Sam Hornish? Uh, You Could Say That

The champ has spoken.

Jimmie Johnson uncharacteristically criticized another driver on Thursday when I asked what driver he’d like to learn from and what driver he wouldn’t.

Johnson cited Mark Martin as the guy he’d take advice from (“He adapts to situation as good as anyone”), but said the driver to avoid would be Sam Hornish Jr.

Apparently the incident when Hornish wrecked Johnson early in the Texas Chase race last year has not been forgotten.

“He hits waaay too much stuff,” Johnson said, “including me, at important times of the year. And has still today never said a word. I wish he’d just walk up to me and say, ‘Hey, I meant to crash you.’”

But didn’t another driver get Hornish loose in a three-wide situation or get into him?

Johnson wasn’t having any of it.

“Either way, wouldn’t you think that with what was on the line, you’d at least walk up to the guy and say, ‘Man, I hate it for you; it wasn’t my fault, somebody hit me,’” Johnson asked, somewhat incredulous. “But the guy just doesn’t talk. He doesn’t say anything.”

At this point, reporters were laughing and The Associated Press’ Jenna Fryer jokingly asked why Johnson didn’t just punch Hornish in the face.

“Nah,” Johnson said with a chuckle.

I proposed that maybe Johnson’s voicemail was full when Hornish tried to call.

“Yeah, maybe,” he said.