Kyle Busch Needles Jimmie Johnson For Racing Too Conservatively At Fontana

Jimmie Johnson was explaining to reporters why he didn’t try to press the issue with Kevin Harvick on the last lap of Sunday’s race at Fontana when Kyle Busch playfully interjected.

It was part of a humorous exchange between the two drivers, who finished second and third at Auto Club Speedway.

Johnson had said “today was all about a win,” but then added “there is a flipside.”

“When Kevin was alongside of me off of (Turn) 4, I could have maybe tried to squeeze the door, do something a little stupid there,” Johnson said. “I’m like, ‘If I spin out here and finish 15th because I’m down on the grass, can’t get the car fired up, it would just be stupid.’”

But Busch didn’t see the problem with that. Sitting right next to Johnson on the post-race press conference stage, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver couldn’t help himself from expressing what he would have done in the same situation.

“C’mon,” Busch said jokingly. “What the hell, damn it!”

Johnson laughed and told Busch, “That’s what happens (to a driver’s mindset) at (age) 35 and 10 years in the sport.”

Then Johnson turned the tables on Busch.

“What did you do off of (Turn) 4?” he asked Busch about the last lap.

“I got in the wall,” Busch said with a smile. “I told you, I was bored.”

Johnson then emphasized that though it was a good points day, he was far from satisfied with second.

“It’s like kissing your sister, running second,” Johnson said, “and I don’t have a sister.”