#42-Kyle Larson called #31-Ryan Newman’s last-lap actions Sunday ‘a little upsetting’ but said he understood Newman’s desperation and ‘can’t fault him for being aggressive there.’ Needing to pass Larson to secure the final spot in the championship round, Newman dive-bombed the rookie on the last lap at Phoenix International Raceway. Newman’s car slid up the track and hit Larson’s car, sending it toward the wall. That allowed Newman by, giving him a shot at the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. By advancing, Newman eliminated #24-Jeff Gordon from title contention. ‘Coming to the finish, there were a lot of cars racing really hard,’ Larson said in a statement provided to Motor Racing Network by Chip Ganassi Racing. ‘I knew (Newman) was right around me and knew he needed to gain some spots to keep from getting eliminated from the Chase. It’s a little upsetting he pushed me up to the wall, but I completely understand the situation he was in and can’t fault him for being aggressive there. I think a lot of drivers out here would have done something similar if they were in that position.’(Motor Racing Network)(11-10-2014)
More comments: Larson, met with members of the media at Homestead-Miami Speedway and discussed his conversation with Ryan Newman this week, the transcript in part:
Q) DO YOU WANT TO KICK RYAN NEWMAN’S BUTT AFTER LAST WEEK?
Larson: ‘No, I didn’t want to kick his butt. He called me this week and we talked. I told him I was upset for 10 minutes then I realized Ryan (Newman) knew what was on the line for him. I think there are a lot of people out here that probably would have done the same thing that he did. At least he is in the Chase; it would be a great move if he goes on to win the championship. Like I said, I get over things pretty quickly.’
Q) WOULD YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME THING IF YOU WERE IN HIS POSITION?
Larson: ‘It’s hard to really say until you are in that position. I got a ton of criticism a couple of years ago when I did an even probably worse move at a late model race. Yeah, I don’t know, it’s hard to say, but there is a ton on the line at that point.’
Q) DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STILL LEARNING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE?
Larson: ‘Yeah, maybe a little bit. I think in the Cup series most people race with respect, so I think I’ve gotten a lot better with that throughout my career so far, last year in Nationwide and this year in Cup. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better with give and take and things like that. With this new format it kind of throws a little different curve into it, where in the Chase each race is so important, so you see people take chances like that. Yeah, it’s hard to say if you would do the same thing in that point in time.’
Q) AFTER LAST WEEK WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND (RYAN) NEWMAN IN THE CLOSING LAPS ON SUNDAY IF YOU ARE RACING AROUND ONE OF THOSE FOUR WHAT DO YOU DO?
Larson: ‘I just race them how I have raced them all season long I think. Hopefully I don’t get into any of them. I got into Ty Dillon here a couple of years ago and he was going for a Truck championship and I felt horrible after that. I don’t want to go through that again. I’m going to try my best to get a win and if they are in front of me I’m definitely going to try and pass him, but not do anything stupid or crazy to ruin their chances of winning a championship. Because none of them have won a championship so I know how much it means to them.’
Q) YOU TALKED TO RYAN VIA PHONE?
Larson: ‘Yeah, he called me Tuesday maybe.’
Q) HOW DID THAT GO? WHAT WAS THE TONE LIKE?
Larson: ‘Oh it was fine. He said he was waiting for a coyote to stick it’s head out so he could shoot it. He said he was out there on his farm, but I mean like I said I was upset for 10 minutes and I was over it. I understood the situation and what was at stake for him. He just kind of explained himself. I was totally fine. I like (Ryan) Newman a lot. I think he’s a great driver. He came from an open wheel background so I have kind of always been a fan of his. Like I said I was over it pretty quick.’(Team Chevy)(11-15-2014)
