BROOKLYN, Mich. — Brad Keselowski “talked at length” with Jeff Gordon on Friday at Michigan International Speedway, their first in-person communication since the 2012 Sprint Cup champion rebuked the retired four-time titlist for comments made during a Fox Sports 1 broadcast on Monday.
Keselowski was penalized during Monday's Sprint Cup race at Pocono for an improper body modification. The Fox Sports 1 broadcast showed a crewman for the Team Penske driver denting the side of the No. 2 Ford during a pit stop. In the closing stages of that race, with Keselowski running in the top five and making a charge for the win, Gordon referenced a similar incident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which was shown on replay.
Gordon commented that Keselowski’s team had been penalized in the Las Vegas race for doing the same to gain an aerodynamic advantage but he was mistaken — Keselowski was penalized for speeding on pit road. Gordon later apologized on Twitter.
Keselowski, who had feuded with Gordon in late 2014 when a brawl broke out between the two drivers at Texas Motor Speedway, stated Monday, and reiterated on Friday that broadcasters with financial connections to Sprint Cup teams shouldn’t be “talking about my race car in a derogatory form or a perceived derogatory form.” Gordon is a part-owner of Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team.
Keselowski sat for an interview with Gordon for FS1 on Friday, and thinks they might have found accord, if not agreement.
“I think there are certainly some different opinions,” Keselowski said. “I don’t necessarily know if that is going to change, but it is nice to be able to have those conversations in a one-on-one format. Of course there was a camera there, so I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Probably a little bit of both. I feel like it is good and hopefully we can move on.”
MOURNING GORDIE
Keselowski took a minute before talking with media after NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Michigan International Speedway on Friday to discuss the passing of Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe, who died Friday at 88.
“Before I get started I think I want to say something about Gordie Howe,” said Keselowski, the 2012 Cup champion who was born and raised in Rochester Hills. “Being in Detroit, it’s a huge deal if you are from the area, his passing. He lived really close to me when I was growing up and it’s a big deal for all my friends and family and probably isn’t a big deal for all of you, but that is a guy that left a tremendous legacy on his sport. I am thinking about him and his family.”
Keselowski, 32, didn’t see Howe, who retired in 1980, play but knew just what impact Mr. Hockey had on Detroit and the sport during his lifetime.
“I don’t think you can grow up in this area and not be a hockey fan of the Red Wings,” said Keselowski. “I think he had more than just the respect of his community, he had the respect of his entire sport, which is hard for anyone. He has such admiration from the fan base and it has been almost 40 years since he retired. That really says something about someone.
“In the community, he was someone that remained a pillar after he finished his career.”
Contributing: Mike Brudenell, Detroit Free Press
Follow James on Twitter @brantjames and Brudenell @MikeBrudenell
