FILE 2014: Jimmie Johnson reacts with fans before the Brickyard 400 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, He reportedly said he believes a recent fatal crash involving Tony Stewart was "completely and accident." (AP)
NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson told ESPN Friday that he believes Saturday's deadly crash involving fellow racer Tony Stewart was "completely an accident."
Johnson told ESPN that he feels "the pain and sorrow" for Kevin Ward Jr.'s family, and called on Stewart to talk about the incident, because it will likely ease some fans' minds.
Stewart is skipping this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at MIS. Last Saturday, Stewart's car hit and killed Ward at a sprint car event in Canandaigua, NY. After Stewart appeared to clip Ward's car, sending it spinning, Ward left the car during the caution period, walked down the track and was hit by Stewart.
Kevin Ward Sr., who was at the race when his son was hit by the car and watched as emergency workers performed CPR for 45 minutes, told The Syracuse Post-Standard that "Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night. Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there’s no reason for it."
"Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn't see him," Ward told the paper. No charges have been filed against Stewart, but they are possible.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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