Jimmie Johnson on chatter with crew chief: 'It's kind of like a spouse'

CONCORD, N.C. -- Fox Sports 1's "Radioactive" segment - which features the best in-car race chatter each week - played an exchange between Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus this week, and it was typical of some of the team radio sparring that has gone on between the two over the years.

In this case, Knaus told Johnson that Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott were having more success with a higher line at New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- but Johnson didn't seem to appreciate the suggestion.

"The 4 and the 24 have got their right-side tires above the hash marks running some decent laps if you want to look around," Knaus said.

"Every time I'm up there, I lose two-tenths (of a second)," Johnson replied with a bit of an edge in his voice. "You let me know what you want me to do."

"Just feeding you information, buddy," Knaus said, calmly. "You're doing a great job, man."

So with Johnson answering questions Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway after helping paint the pit road wall pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, some wondered if he and Knaus ever revisit those situations after the race.

"We do," Johnson said. "And through various stages of it, I've come back to him and have said, 'Keep feeding me information.' Of course, how it's presented to a driver in the heat of the moment is always tricky. I'm not sure any driver is ready to hear different things in the race car.

"But even with some of the remarks I snap back at him, I still continue to ask him for information. I'd be foolish to not have it. I'd just hope he'd see when I try it and it doesn't work to not beat me up over it."

Johnson said he needs to remind himself at times that Knaus is "coming from a place of concern" and wants what's best for the team.

He paused, then chuckled.

"It's kind of like a spouse," Johnson said. "They make suggestions and you don't want to hear it. But five minutes later, you're like, 'Well...' "

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