Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon met Friday at Michigan International Speedway for the first time since Keselowski questioned Gordon’s comments of Keselowski’s team Monday.
“There were no hugs I can confirm,’’ Keselowski said of the session with Gordon, which was filmed by FS1. “There were handshakes. We talked at length. There’s certainly some differing opinions. I don’t necessarily know if that is going to change. It’s nice to be able to have those conversations in a one-on-one format, of course there was a camera there.
Keselowski raised issues Monday about Gordon, a part owner in Jimmie Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports team, after Gordon’s comments about a penalty incurred by Keselowski’s team at Pocono Raceway.
Keselowski stated after the race that the sport needed to have people in the TV booth who do not own teams or have a commercial interest in the sport. Keselowski said during Nate Ryan’s NBC Sports Podcast this week that he felt the comments were a “direct attack on myself and my team.’’
Keselowski discussed the topic more on Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
“My big thing is I don’t want somebody who is invested in another team talking about my race car in a derogatory form or even if it’s a perceived derogatory form,’’ Keselowski said. “I don’t think that’s right, and I’m going to defend my team in those situations no matter who it is.
“Beyond that, I think (Gordon) has a position that requires his insight, but there’s some limitations to what insight I think is fair play for that position when you’re still invested in the sport. I feel that was over the line and not just that particular example but a number of other examples on other broadcasts. I just want to make sure if anyone wants to criticize me and how I drive the race car, that’s one thing, not my team and not things that could be perceived as self-serving.’’
Of course, Keselowski has served as an analyst in the TV booth for Xfinity broadcasts before.
“I feel like if you’re in the booth or a position such as that, not just the booth it could be anything, and you’re invested in the sport, I think you just should probably bow out of some conversations that are, of course, a conflict of interest,’’ Keselowski said.
“It’s OK to be out there in the booth if you can respect the limitations that you almost self imply to being a journalist. People have asked me what is it like being in the booth for the Xfinity races because I have a relationship obviously with Team Penske and they compete in that series even when I’m not driving.
“I would say that in those situations where something comes up about that team or car or whoever it might, that it’s my belief don’t say anything. There’s a lot more than one person in the booth and on the production teams and that’s kind of how I’ve treated that situation. I feel like that’s probably a more reasonable guiding light to go forward or request. It’s not my right to enforce by any means, but that’s what I think is fair.’’