Elliott Sadler (38) spins out after being hit by Jimmie Johnson (48). Credit: AP

Sadler upset after latest incident at Talladega

Pole-sitter takes exception to being spun out by Johnson

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Elliott Sadler didn't land on his roof this time at Talladega. When he does, he laughs about it and shakes it off.

His latest Talladega accident was much harder to take.

	Inside the Numbers Elliott Sadler at Talladega Category No. Starts 13 Wins 0 Top-5 1 Top-10 2 DNF 3

Sadler entered the Ford-UAW 500 on a high note after winning the Bud Pole, but his day was wiped out on Lap 20 when he was hit from behind in Turn 1 by Jimmie Johnson, triggering a six-car crash that also claimed the cars of Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip and Mike Skinner.

It is the third consecutive time Sadler has wrecked in Talladega's fall event. He flipped wildly in this race in 2003 and followed that up with a last-lap somersault in the 2004 event.

Because of his Talladega luck, Sadler had joked that he would run upside-down decals on his No. 38 Ford. If he had, they would not have lasted long.

Sadler, who is winless in 2005, said Johnson was racing too hard early in the event.

"I know exactly what happened," Sadler said. "I don't know where [Johnson] was going. I just had no control of the car and my back tires were off the ground."

Johnson said he was already off the gas when the accident occurred.

Inside the Chase Point standings after 'Dega No. Driver Pts. Behind 1. T. Stewart 5,519 -- 2. R. Newman 5,515 -4 3. R. Wallace 5,443 -76 4. J. Johnson 5,437 -82 5. G. Biffle 5,421 -98 6. C. Edwards 5,419 -100 7. M. Kenseth 5,408 -111 8. J. Mayfield 5,407 -112 9. M. Martin 5,381 -138 10. Ku. Busch 5,339 -180 • Race Results, click here • Cup Standings, click here Victory LaneDale Jarrett celebrates his second win at Talladega Talladega tumbleRiggs goes for a wild ride and Rusty, Johnson collected UAW-Ford 500Catch all the 'Dega highlights with TrackPass Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"I've got my hand up waving off the No. 8 [Earnhardt Jr.] and I was on the brakes, trying not to get into the back of [Sadler]," Johnson said. "There is only so much you can do when you're getting a push.

"It's real easy to sit on your couch and point fingers and say 'So-and-so did something wrong,' " Johnson said. "But until you are out there in these cars, at these speeds, and seeing all the near-misses and what is really going on, it is not worth forming an opinion.''

Earnhardt Jr.'s day was wiped out by the crash, but he didn't blame Johnson.

"It was just hard racing right there," Earnhardt Jr. said "We're all together, so it's hard to miss something when we're going so fast. That was an accident, and accidents happen."

Sadler wasn't injured, and he eventually returned to track, where he finished 34th. Johnson's car was able to continue following the crash, but he was caught up in a second accident on Lap 66.

Johnson wound up 31st, which cost him his week-old points lead.

"It's a shame. I am going to bite my tongue right now," said Sadler, who led nine of the first 20 laps. "[There are] three pedals in the car. The middle one is the brake, in case he didn't know.

"I am pretty upset right now, Jimmie usually races a little better than that."