Gordon, Stewart make up

LONG POND, Pa. – Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart tempered the anger that followed a crash the last time they raced.

Although they haven’t spoken, Gordon said Saturday that the superstar NASCAR drivers have exchanged phone messages.

“He said that he was sorry about what happened and he wanted to talk to me,” Gordon said at Pocono Raceway. “I said, ‘I got your message. Don’t worry about it. I’m moving on. Let’s go racing.’ “

So, there has been no face-to-face discussion at Pocono – where their haulers are parked less than 4 feet apart. They race here today in the Pocono 500.

A week ago at Dover International Speedway, Stewart spun out a slower Gordon early in the race. Gordon said it was unnecessary and that he would have moved over. Stewart said Gordon didn’t allow him the courtesy to go by despite knowing he had the faster car.

An angry Gordon said he would quickly move Stewart out of the way the next time their situations were reversed. Stewart said he wouldn’t mind another crash if that’s what Gordon wanted.

Gordon said tight racing among top drivers sometimes breeds problems and leads to anger in the heat of competition.

“I’ve been through a lot of things over the years, and stuff happens,” Gordon said. “We’re going to race hard for a number of years. Sometimes things are going to go his way and sometimes they’re going to go my way. Accidents are going to happen.

“I definitely think the cars are a little bit more on edge. We’ve got to give and take a little bit more and not less. But you know that if you can keep that guy behind you that it’s a huge advantage.”

Stewart acknowledged late Friday the exchange of messages with Gordon but did not elaborate other than to say he didn’t expect a carry-over. Stewart left the track immediately after qualifying 26th. His spokesman said he would have no additional comments.