CHARLOTTE, N.C. Four-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson had a major shake-up to his race team Monday when Hendrick Motorsports gave him teammate Jeff Gordon’s pit crew for the final two races of the season.

The swap comes a day after Johnson’s crew was benched midrace at Texas Motor Speedway following a shaky performance on pit road. The switch Sunday was made possible after an accident knocked Gordon out of the race.

Gordon’s crew was flawless the rest of the day for Johnson, but he still finished ninth and winner Denny Hamlin took over the points lead. With two races remaining in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, Johnson trails Hamlin by 33 points.

It’s the first time Johnson has not been the points leader this late in the season since 2005.

“We had some issues on pit road and I feel terrible for my guys and that we had to make a change,” Johnson said after Sunday’s race. “But the 24 guys came in and did a great job.”

Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus and Gordon crew chief Steve Letarte are scheduled to discuss the swap today.

But Knaus was unapologetic for benching his championship-winning team in the middle of a race. He also downplayed the significance of the change since the Gordon and Johnson teams are tied so closely together at Hendrick Motorsports.

“We needed to do something,” Knaus said Sunday. “This is a team. The 24/48 shop has always operated as a team and that is the way that we see it. It is sad that we had to do that, but in interest of Hendrick Motorsports and what we have to do, you have to do that stuff.”