SPARTA, Ky. — It's not like Dale Earnhardt Jr. meant to run into the back of Danica Patrick with 61 laps to go — he had been having brake trouble all night and couldn't slow down — but that was indeed the result.
And despite the lack of intent, Patrick was plenty angry at Earnhardt after the incident. She cursed at him on the team radio and ran into the back of him as both cars came to pit road. After the race, she scowled and walked away briskly without comment, pausing only briefly to receive some advice from team owner Tony Stewart.