PERSONALITIES AND NUTS

If racing Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is nearly as entertaining as happenings in the Brickyard media center today then it should be one helluva race.

Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch were at their best in news conferences.

Newman’s former Penske teammate, Rusty Wallace, has said that Roger Penske decided not to have Newman return to the team for next year instead of Newman’s version that he initiated the “mutual decision” to split up.

Newman’s response to Wallace’s comment:

"I don't know what Rusty's grounds are, what he's trying to prove by saying that. That wasn't the case. Roger and I decided mutually to not continue, and it was more my decision I would say. I said our goals didn't align ... for that reason and that reason alone we decided to not continue after 2008. ..."

"I know Rusty and I know his personalities — plural — and everybody's different."

Newman and Wallace were not very close as teammates before Wallace’s retirement after the 2005 season.

And now Kyle, responding to the question: Do you enjoy when the boos intensify with your victory bows?

”I might as well enjoy it – it’s better than a kick in the (expletive).”

WHY TONY WILL WIN AS OWNER

Read about it in my most recent column at LVRJ.com. Just click “Jeff’s column” below my photo in the upper left.