Pit Pass Radio

The only difference in the #11 Fed Ex team’s performance from the one they had six weeks ago, is that they didn’t have to overcome a spin and come from the back this time. From the time the cars unloaded at Pocono this past weekend, the talk in the garage area was that the strongest car was once again the #11 of Denny Hamlin.
Really the only question of the day was whether the #11 would have any kind of mechanical trouble, and if not, how many cars would be able to remain on the lead lap.
Tony Stewart, once again, stirred up a firestorm of controversy when he showed his displeasure for the #07 of Clint Bowyer seemingly running Stewart up the track coming off of turn three, by telling him he was ‘number one’ with a hand gesture and then proceeding to turn dead left into Bowyer’s car. That sent Bowyer into a spin which, in turn, slammed him into the innocent bystander, Carl Edwards. It was a classic case of racer irritation vs. good sense.
Stewart said after the race that there are some first and second year drivers (including Bowyer, obviously), that don’t know how to give and take and be patient throughout a 500 mile race. It turns out that Tony was completely wrong in this case and he apologized for his actions.
“I’m taking 100 percent responsibility for the final incident that occurred on lap 32 between myself, the 07 (Bowyer) and the 99 (Edwards)”. Stewart said on Monday. “It was totally my fault.”
Apparently he and Bowyer had a heart to heart meeting about the incident.
“…there were circumstances that led up to that wreck, and after talking with Clint this morning, we both have a better understanding as to what happened. He was trying to get out of my way and didn’t realize that I had gone to the outside. He thought I was to his inside, and when he tried to give me some room, he slid into us and it put us into the outside wall. I reacted, causing the wreck that I take responsibility for and regret.”
It’s amazing what a little time and video tape can solve, along with a short conversation with the guy you were so mad at during the race.
I wonder if Tony has spoken to Carl Edwards yet? The driver of the #99 was none too happy about being crashed out of the race and likely having himself knocked out of the Chase for the Nextel Cup, for no apparent reason. Carl commented after the race that if he didn’t have the utmost respect for the sport and for Stewart’s team that Tony, “would be out there bleeding right now”.
Ouch.
That kind of comment coming from the easy going midwesterner means that Stewart really got on his bad side at Pocono. We’ll see if any of this feuding continues at the Brickyard or if it will all die down during the off week.

By the way, Denny Hamlin is bringing that same car he used in the last two Pocono events to Indy…