pandr
09-14-2011, 10:09 PM
Kurt Busch: No more wrecking, let's 'race hard'
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Tuesday, Sep. 13, 2011
Kurt Busch won't be looking for any more run-ins with Jimmie Johnson as the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
"We don't need to continue to wreck race cars, but we do need to continue to put on a good show," Busch said Tuesday during a national teleconference. "I mean, that's what our fans buy the tickets for and they want to see a genuine rivalry between drivers."
Fans certainly saw that Saturday night, when Busch and Johnson twice were involved in wrecks on the track at Richmond, Va. Johnson's car got the worse end of the deal, requiring extensive repairs in the garage.
No serious damage was done to either driver's championship hopes since both were locked into the Chase.
Going forward, however, the stakes will be much higher.
"There're 12 drivers in this Chase, not just one other guy and we just need to stick to our guns on what's got us to this point, and that's consistency," Busch said.
"So for him and I, we're going to continue to race hard with each other but we know it's championship time now."
The run-ins Saturday night with Johnson spilled over afterward as Busch had to be restrained during a confrontation on pit road with a media member, who tried to ask about the incidents with Johnson. Busch verbally sparred with the reporter again at the media center.
Later, when confronted by another reporter with a transcript of his comments made on pit road, Busch tore up the paper and tossed it aside.
"Well, I feel like with the great regular season like we had and to battle back to finish fifth at Richmond ... I was ready to celebrate," he said. "And to come away with a top-five and then have to answer questions about being dumped deliberately, it was taking the focus away from where I thought the season should have been recognized for.
"So, I've apologized to the individuals, and the way that we do this moving forward is that we're worried about racing and that's what needs to be written about."
Busch said he always has had to walk a fine line during his racing career, tempering the tenacity he feels is required on the track.
"That drive from within has drivers seeing red sometimes, and I'm one that's guilty of that. But I think I race better when I have anger," he said. "It just drives me to be my best.
"Then you just have to snap out of it right after the race because you're coming back into the regular world. A lot of people don't see what drivers see through the windshield and what it takes to be successful."
C/P Thats Racin
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Tuesday, Sep. 13, 2011
Kurt Busch won't be looking for any more run-ins with Jimmie Johnson as the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
"We don't need to continue to wreck race cars, but we do need to continue to put on a good show," Busch said Tuesday during a national teleconference. "I mean, that's what our fans buy the tickets for and they want to see a genuine rivalry between drivers."
Fans certainly saw that Saturday night, when Busch and Johnson twice were involved in wrecks on the track at Richmond, Va. Johnson's car got the worse end of the deal, requiring extensive repairs in the garage.
No serious damage was done to either driver's championship hopes since both were locked into the Chase.
Going forward, however, the stakes will be much higher.
"There're 12 drivers in this Chase, not just one other guy and we just need to stick to our guns on what's got us to this point, and that's consistency," Busch said.
"So for him and I, we're going to continue to race hard with each other but we know it's championship time now."
The run-ins Saturday night with Johnson spilled over afterward as Busch had to be restrained during a confrontation on pit road with a media member, who tried to ask about the incidents with Johnson. Busch verbally sparred with the reporter again at the media center.
Later, when confronted by another reporter with a transcript of his comments made on pit road, Busch tore up the paper and tossed it aside.
"Well, I feel like with the great regular season like we had and to battle back to finish fifth at Richmond ... I was ready to celebrate," he said. "And to come away with a top-five and then have to answer questions about being dumped deliberately, it was taking the focus away from where I thought the season should have been recognized for.
"So, I've apologized to the individuals, and the way that we do this moving forward is that we're worried about racing and that's what needs to be written about."
Busch said he always has had to walk a fine line during his racing career, tempering the tenacity he feels is required on the track.
"That drive from within has drivers seeing red sometimes, and I'm one that's guilty of that. But I think I race better when I have anger," he said. "It just drives me to be my best.
"Then you just have to snap out of it right after the race because you're coming back into the regular world. A lot of people don't see what drivers see through the windshield and what it takes to be successful."
C/P Thats Racin