Robby Gordon (right).

R. Gordon: I didn't push reporter at Loudon

DOVER, Del. -- Robby Gordon expressed remorse Friday for inadvertently involving Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield in a personal conflict with Greg Biffle last weekend in Loudon, N.H., and clarified a week's worth of speculation on what exactly occurred during a post-race media scrum.

Robby Gordon 2004 Stats Driver Page Merchandise Race Talk poll

Some publications reported that Gordon had pushed XM Radio reporter Claire B. Lang upon exit from his car, an allegation Gordon vehemently denied.

"Nothing happened in post-race," Gordon said. "I have read (reports), and I consider Claire B. Lang a good friend of mine.

"I did not push Claire B. Lang after the race. Have any of you ever seen her husband? He's a pretty big guy. The last thing I'm going to do is push Claire B."

Lang then spoke up, saying she didn't recall being pushed. She didn't rule out unintentional contact, but was staunchly against reports that she'd been purposefully shoved.

Gordon concurred.

"I'm 200 pounds and she's all of 110. If she got moved a little bit, it was not an intentional shove," Gordon said. "You guys would know. You've seen situations with me in the past and would know if I shoved somebody. I knew the situation, the way it was going to explode. And it happened just like I thought it would."

Gordon did admit to making an obscene gesture at a single media member, who remained unnamed.

Greg Biffle

"Did I give someone (the middle finger)? Yes. Was it to all the media? No. It was to one individual," Gordon said. "I didn't even think anybody would really see it. I tried to do it as discreet as possible, but it happened."

For the on-track incident that ultimately knocked Stewart and Mayfield out of the race, Gordon showed genuine regret, and cited it as the reason for his post race anger.

Knocking Stewart and Mayfield out of the race "was why I was so mad after the race," Gordon said. "I wasn't mad because I sat there and drove a wrecked race car for 270 laps.

Jeremy Mayfield

"It was the fact that I had to think about those two guys, knowing that they were in this race for the championship and that I had affected their championship race.

"That's really where the 'didn't want to talk after the race,' (came from), because I didn't want to say the wrong thing. I guess it would have been easier to say I'm sorry for wrecking Jeremy and Tony and that I understand what's going on.

"I just didn't know what to say at that point, to be honest with you."

Tony Stewart

Gordon said he's yet to discuss the matter with Stewart or Mayfield, though he has made an attempt to visit both drivers' motor homes. He did, however, clear the air with Biffle when the two crossed paths Thursday.

"Greg's comment was, 'Does this mean I don't get to go to Glamis with you on Christmas?' Between me and Greg, there is no issue," Gordon said. "He knows what he did. He knows what I did, and I consider Greg not only a fierce competitor, but a good friend of mine.

"I think this has gotten the attention it's gotten for other reasons besides the on-track issue. If it wasn't so tight, and a 10-race Chase, it probably wouldn't have had the attention it has."

It certainly got team owner Richard Childress' attention.

Childress placed Gordon on team-imposed probation as a result of the incident, which happened 64 laps into the Sylvania 300 when Gordon dove into Turn 2 and intentionally wrecked Biffle, collecting Mayfield and Stewart in the process.

Gordon said he is not on probation with NASCAR.

The probation "will hamper my ability," Gordon said. "I have a lot of respect for Richard (Childress) and will see what kind of probation or what kind of pressure he wants to put on me, but I will try to do to the best of my ability to race people as clean as possible.

"At the same time I don't have a deal for next year and I have to perform. It's a Catch-22.

"It's pretty big. When we're right here in contract re-negotiating time (probation) is not only big at RCR, but other places, as well. I'll just have mind my p's and q's."

Though unsure what 2005 has in store, Gordon hasn't ruled out a return to RCR.

"I could very easily be back with RCR," Gordon said. "I've had a good run there. "I believe we have a good race team, a good thing going on. Time will tell."