Debris or not debris

Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 and put on probation until Dec. 31 for not attending a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series post-race news conference at Phoenix Intnerational Raceway.
But he was not disciplined for the comments he made on his radio show Tuesday night.
NASCAR handed down its penalty to Stewart at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, site of Sunday's Cup race, Friday morning.
On his radio show, Stewart was critical of NASCAR's decisions to throw penalty flags for debris at questionable times during races and he likened NASCAR Cup races to professional wrestling.
He met with NASCAR officials Friday morning and they assured him cautions for debris are legitimate.
"They say that there are things that are there. And to be honest, the group that I spoke with this morning is a group of peers that I trust," said Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing. "If they tell me that the stuff is out there, I believe them. It's hard sometimes when you don't see it and there are a lot of times we don't see it and I questioned that. But I think they're approach was logical. Instead of doing it in the way I did it -- I should have went to them instead of just saying it out in public."
Despite his meeting with NASCAR, Stewart said his frustration still exists with the debris cautions.
"But honestly, I feel confident. They've told me that this doesn't happen," Stewart said. "It's a group of people that I trust and until there is evidence to show me that what they are saying is not true, I'm going to believe them."
Even though he wasn't fined and penalized for his comments, Stewart said he did not meet with the media after the Phoenix race because he did not want to say anything he would get penalized for.
"I was so frustrated that I knew if I went to the media center after the race..I was happy with my run. I was ecstatic with having a second place run. I had a great battle with Jeff (Gordon). I still hate losing," Stewart said. "Second isn't what I wanted, but considering the week we had the week before, a second place run and leading the most laps was a great night for us."
Specifically, Stewart said he questioned the timing of the caution flags for debris in the first half of the race at Phoenix. He added that he did not want to talk to the media after the race and say anything he would regret.
"And Tuesday night I was sick and still ended up saying things that I didn't want to say; or shouldn't have said, and got in trouble for," Stewart said. "The meeting this morning was a good meeting. It's a little tender for me to sit down right now, but I'm semi-confident that by the time practice starts that the medication I've got will numb it up enough that I can go out there and do my job this afternoon."