LAS VEGAS (AP) - Matt Kenseth was confused when he learned Brian Vickers blamed him for last week's wreck at Phoenix. After watching a replay of the 14-car accident, he wasn't any clearer on what Vickers was upset about.
"I felt bad on the way home because I heard he was mad at me because somebody said he thought I caused the wreck and honestly I didn't think I did," Kenseth said.
Kenseth said he sent Vickers a text message to discuss the accident, and never heard back.
"I figured after I went home and watched the clip that I would get an apology," he said. "But I never did. That's OK. I don't feel like I did anything wrong there."
The two cars may have slight contact, but replays showed Vickers lost control of his Toyota and triggered the chain-reaction accident. Vickers blamed Kenseth and aggressive driving for the carnage.
"I felt like it was unnecessary and I'm sure it will come back to him," he said after the accident.
Kenseth wasn't worried about it at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he'll start on the pole for today's race. It's just the fifth pole of Kenseth's 12-year career. Kenseth also topped the speed chart at Saturday's only practice.
STILL CELEBRATING: Jeff Gordon had already planned a trip to the "The Tonight Show" before he won last weekend's race at Phoenix. But when he did the pre-interview for the show, he was in the worst slump of his career.
"They're like, 'What's a funny story? What's been going on? We know you haven't won. Boy, it would be great if you could win before you get here,"' Gordon said.
He did Sunday in Phoenix, ending his 66-race winless streak then jetting off to California to attend post-Oscar parties with Pixar and Disney animation chief John Lasseter.
"The whole night was just spectacular to be able to go into that room with that level of celebrity and power and Hollywood and everything," Gordon said. "You're just in awe of it. But then people come up to you and congratulate you. It was pretty cool. And the whole week was like that."
It had been almost two years since he'd won a race. Gordon said the reaction in the grandstands in Phoenix may have been the best of his 83 career victories.
"It sent chills up my spine," he said. "That was unbelievable. I don't quite understand it to be honest with you - maybe a little bit of a sympathy vote."