Associated Press

Since Jimmie Johnson (left) joined Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports eight years ago, Gordon has not won another title.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Should Jimmie Johnson win his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title Sunday, Jeff Gordon likely will smile, hug his teammate and celebrate Johnson's momentous feat.

As part owner of Johnson's car, Gordon will be happy.

As a competitor, pangs of frustration will gnaw at him with another championship lost.

A driver once seemingly destined to surpass the seven titles of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Gordon hasn't even been the most prolific driver at Hendrick Motorsports in half a decade.

While Johnson's title run alters history, it also impacts a friendship. Johnson and Gordon remain good friends -- there's no disputing that -- but their relationship is not what it was. Life and racing have changed for both since Gordon backed car owner Rick Hendrick's decision to hire Johnson eight years ago.

When Johnson arrived, Gordon was coming off his fourth series crown. The drive for five was on.

It still is.

Now the slogan annoys Gordon. It's a reminder more of what he hasn't accomplished than of what he has.

As Johnson seeks to become the first driver in series history to win four Cup championships in a row, Gordon can only watch. Just as he's done throughout this period. Johnson has won 29 races since his title reign began in 2006. Gordon has nine victories in the same time.

"I'm a competitor like every other competitor out there that wants to beat him,'' Gordon said of Johnson. "Because I'm at Hendrick Motorsports and his teammate I see everything that goes on and I'm aware of the setups and the driving styles and the data and all those things and sometimes that can make it even more frustrating when you're getting beat.

"I think at the same time it makes you hungrier to want to push harder to do everything you can to go out there and beat them. So it's definitely affected our friendship. There's no doubt about it. I'm not going to go over and pat him on the back and say how great he is and 'I love you man' when I really want to beat him.''

Told of Gordon's comments, Johnson conveys surprise.

"There's no doubt that over the last few years competition has been more intense,'' Johnson said. "We've been racing for championships. It was a lot easier when I was a rookie needing assistance and help. We spent a lot of time together then. We were both single and ... having a lot of fun. So that certainly helped.

"I think we still have a very strong friendship. He's probably right in the respect that as competitive as we are, what we're racing for, what we're both trying to accomplish in our professional careers, it does strain the friendship side. I'm not sure if 'strain' is the correct word. There's less focus on the personal side and the friendship side. It's more of a working relationship.''

Gordon admits that they'll likely be "better friends 15, 20 years from now'' because they won't be competing against each other. This has happened before in the sport. Fierce rivals Bobby Allison and Richard Petty didn't become close friends until years after they quit racing.

Car owner Rick Hendrick admits he has checked on Johnson and Gordon at times, most notably after their bumper-banging battle for the win at Martinsville in 2007. Johnson won that day.

"The time to step in is immediately and say, 'Wait a minute we can't do this,' and remind them of the big picture,'' Hendrick said. "They're pros. They're as close as two guys can be that have to compete against each other.''

That their friendship hasn't deteriorated shows the respect each has for the other and for the organization. It would be easy for jealousies to develop, teams to fracture and an organization's foundation to crumble.

Instead, Hendrick Motorsports excels.

Even in these times, Johnson knows his reign atop the sport won't last. Maybe one day he'll face the issues Gordon has in having a friend beat him for a championship.

"I've been very fortunate to race with and [to have] been mentored by other champions and guys that have been very successful,'' Johnson said. "I've always, in the back of my mind, said, 'That's how I want to kind of handle things, be and act.' I do pay attention to that.

"When that day comes, I hope I can handle it as well as the guys I've respected growing up have, because it won't be easy. Losing sucks. We all hate it.''

Gordon included. Even as he cheers Johnson's accomplishments.