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Busch, Spencer calm after talk with NASCAR
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive August 9, 2002
1:11 PM EDT (1711 GMT)
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer had their scheduled meeting with NASCAR officials here on Friday morning.
Although nobody was telling exactly what was said when the drivers and their team owners met with the officials, all parties seemed to be civil and said what happened last weekend in Indianapolis is in the past.
Kurt Busch dropped to 10th in the Winston Cup points after Indianapolis. Credit: Autostock
"That's old news, that happened last week," said Spencer, upon exiting the NASCAR hauler. "The meeting was about what happened in the past and NASCAR just wanted to make sure that we are on the same table of thinking because we have to race each other.
"It was a real good meeting. Anytime you get people in there and hash out all your past history and the future what you have to do and what you don't have to do --- time tells.
"I don't even know what the meeting was for, I don't think I did anything wrong," Spencer continued. "Yet, on the other side of it you have to respect NASCAR for addressing issues. I respect Mike Helton (NASCAR president) and his staff and when you get called to the trailer, you listen to what they have to say."
The alleged wrong came during last Sunday's Brickyard 400 when Busch passed Spencer on the inside. Spencer then tapped the back end of Busch's car, resulting in Busch spinning into the outside wall.
Busch crawled out of the car unhurt and then made two gestures to Spencer as he passed by on consecutive laps under caution. Afterwards, Busch made disparaging remarks about Spencer during a live television interview.
Jimmy Spencer doesn't feel he did anything wrong Sunday at Indy. Credit: Autostock
Busch, who appeared to have a lot to say last week, was quiet upon leaving the NASCAR hauler before a pre-qualifying practice session on the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International.
"The meeting went as expected," Busch said. "We're here in Watkins Glen. What happened in the past, is the past. Things aren't necessarily true about certain situations that didn't come about.
"We ran real well in Sears Point. Now we're here in Watkins Glen to go race our car."
Last week's incident between the two was the third in two years. The first occurred at Phoenix in 2001 when Busch alleged Spencer tried to wreck him out of the race. The second was when the two traded the lead with some bump and run moves at Bristol in April. Busch went on to win the race as Spencer took second.
John Darby, Winston Cup Series director, said he welcomes talking with drivers and team owners regarding these situations. But, he wasn't forthcoming with information of what was discussed during the closed-door session.
The view from inside Jimmy Spencer's No. 41 car of Sunday's accident.
"The owners are very much part of it and that's why we like to include them into those meeting," Darby said. "It's just so that we can hear two more sides that we might not see. The owners are obviously the ones who pay the bills on the cars that show up at the racetracks.
"We have many meetings with drivers. Some of them are held up in the front office of our trailer with the doors closed; and there's a reason the door is closed."
Would Spencer and Busch have talked on their own if not mandated by NASCAR? Spencer said there are various ways drivers handle on-track situations.
"Most everybody tries to settle things that have happened in the past," Spencer said. "Usually, drivers will say they're sorry for something and say they made a mistake.
"But, there are some drivers in the garage area that don't like to do that. That's when NASCAR steps in."
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive August 9, 2002
1:11 PM EDT (1711 GMT)
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Kurt Busch and Jimmy Spencer had their scheduled meeting with NASCAR officials here on Friday morning.
Although nobody was telling exactly what was said when the drivers and their team owners met with the officials, all parties seemed to be civil and said what happened last weekend in Indianapolis is in the past.
Kurt Busch dropped to 10th in the Winston Cup points after Indianapolis. Credit: Autostock
"That's old news, that happened last week," said Spencer, upon exiting the NASCAR hauler. "The meeting was about what happened in the past and NASCAR just wanted to make sure that we are on the same table of thinking because we have to race each other.
"It was a real good meeting. Anytime you get people in there and hash out all your past history and the future what you have to do and what you don't have to do --- time tells.
"I don't even know what the meeting was for, I don't think I did anything wrong," Spencer continued. "Yet, on the other side of it you have to respect NASCAR for addressing issues. I respect Mike Helton (NASCAR president) and his staff and when you get called to the trailer, you listen to what they have to say."
The alleged wrong came during last Sunday's Brickyard 400 when Busch passed Spencer on the inside. Spencer then tapped the back end of Busch's car, resulting in Busch spinning into the outside wall.
Busch crawled out of the car unhurt and then made two gestures to Spencer as he passed by on consecutive laps under caution. Afterwards, Busch made disparaging remarks about Spencer during a live television interview.
Jimmy Spencer doesn't feel he did anything wrong Sunday at Indy. Credit: Autostock
Busch, who appeared to have a lot to say last week, was quiet upon leaving the NASCAR hauler before a pre-qualifying practice session on the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen International.
"The meeting went as expected," Busch said. "We're here in Watkins Glen. What happened in the past, is the past. Things aren't necessarily true about certain situations that didn't come about.
"We ran real well in Sears Point. Now we're here in Watkins Glen to go race our car."
Last week's incident between the two was the third in two years. The first occurred at Phoenix in 2001 when Busch alleged Spencer tried to wreck him out of the race. The second was when the two traded the lead with some bump and run moves at Bristol in April. Busch went on to win the race as Spencer took second.
John Darby, Winston Cup Series director, said he welcomes talking with drivers and team owners regarding these situations. But, he wasn't forthcoming with information of what was discussed during the closed-door session.
The view from inside Jimmy Spencer's No. 41 car of Sunday's accident.
"The owners are very much part of it and that's why we like to include them into those meeting," Darby said. "It's just so that we can hear two more sides that we might not see. The owners are obviously the ones who pay the bills on the cars that show up at the racetracks.
"We have many meetings with drivers. Some of them are held up in the front office of our trailer with the doors closed; and there's a reason the door is closed."
Would Spencer and Busch have talked on their own if not mandated by NASCAR? Spencer said there are various ways drivers handle on-track situations.
"Most everybody tries to settle things that have happened in the past," Spencer said. "Usually, drivers will say they're sorry for something and say they made a mistake.
"But, there are some drivers in the garage area that don't like to do that. That's when NASCAR steps in."