WATKINS GLEN, NY: Ryan Blaney started his day in the back of the field at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, but the Team Penske driver finished fifth when the checkered flag waved in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
Blaney’s strong performance though was far from being uneventful.
He started the race at the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments and then during the race got tangled with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson at Lap 61.
While making gains through strategy and a fast race car, Blaney still accelerated forward and earned his seventh top-five finish of the season.
“Our car was fast,” said Blaney. “We started dead last and took a lot of time to get up through there. We did some pit strategy stuff and got a little bit better throughout the day and got to fifth there.
“I might have been able to get to fourth, but it would have been tough. It was a good job by everybody for having a fast car and ended up pretty decent.”
After climbing from his car, Blaney and Johnson talked, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver left the conversation still upset and annoyed about the contact and insinuated potential retaliation moving forward.
Blaney said the contact with the No. 48 Ally Financial Chevrolet wasn’t intentional and he tried to avoid spinning Johnson.
“It was just racing,” added Blaney. “He had old tires. They just did gas-only and he was pretty slow, and I passed 10 guys off the bus stop all day. He hit the third curb pretty bad and got in that position and he was up, and I had a good run.
“I was there. He left probably a lane-and-a-quarter or so, and I took it. At first, he didn’t turn down like I thought he knew I was there, and then he kept coming. I tried to check up and it was just too late. I mean, obviously, I didn’t mean to spin him out. I don’t want to do that.
“It’s obviously an accident, but he was upset, and I can’t blame him for being upset about it. We’re just racing hard and I thought there was a lane there and it just closed.”
Johnson offered his version of the situation.
“Yeah, he just drove through me in the Carousel over there,” offered Johnson. “I was trying to hear what he had to say but his lips were quivering so bad and he can’t even speak. I guess he’s nervous or scared or both.
“I don’t know what the hell the problem is. He just drove through me, spun us out and clearly that has big implications on what we’re trying to do for the playoffs right now. Clearly not happy with his actions there.
“Scored points in both stages there which was nice. Setting up for a top-ten, top-eight run and yeah just got drove through. So, he claims it was racing — I can’t wait to go racing, everybody stay tuned.”
Blaney said he expects Johnson to race him hard over the next couple of races and understands his frustration over the situation.
“He’s angry,” Blaney mentioned. “I can’t blame him for being angry. He’s trying to get in the Playoffs right now and have good runs. Trust me, the last guy I want to spin out is Jimmie. We always race great together.
“I’ve looked up to him for a long time and still do, and he’s the last guy I want to spin out. It didn’t end well. He wasn’t happy and I can’t blame him. He’ll probably race me pretty hard here for the next few weeks, but I can’t blame him for that. It was definitely not my intention there.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
