Ambrose OK with decision to suspend gas man Watts

CONCORD, N.C. -- Marcos Ambrose said Wednesday that NASCAR made the right call when it recently suspended Jimmy Watts, the gas man on the No. 47 Toyota.

Watts was suspended for four races after "putting himself in harm's way" when a tire from Ambrose's pit stall rolled away and was chased by Watts during the race at Atlanta on March 8. At one point during his pursuit of the tire, Watts was an estimated 70 feet from the front stretch at the track -- where competitors get their cars up to speeds approaching 200 miles per hour during green-flag runs.

Pit-road mistake

• Miscue changed complexion
• Watch video of the incident

The field was running under green at the time. But Watts' walk on the wild side quickly brought out the yellow caution flag, catching some cars on pit road and changing the complexion of the race.

"It's been a saga, I can tell you that," Ambrose said Wednesday from Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he participated in a Goodyear tire test. "From the driver's cockpit during the race, I really didn't know what was going on. But when I drove past and I saw about 14,000 flash bulbs go off around our pit box, I knew something was going on. I knew they were taking photos of something. I didn't know if I had run over someone or if one of our tires had rolled into someone else's pit box or what.

"It was a disaster. But I think the penalty was a good one. You can't have guys running out to the race track. It's just not the thing to do. Jimmy is a great guy. He went on instinct. You can't blame the guy for that, either. I mean, he just went on a reaction and it was the wrong reaction. He needs to be an example for others not to do the same."

Ambrose, who sits 28th in points heading into this Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol, said he was relieved that NASCAR did not penalize the entire No. 47 team in some way.

"I'm pleased they didn't do any points or monetary fines because we're a brand-new team and we're doing everything we can to try and get ourselves in this championship, and use all our money to survive out there," said Ambrose, in his first year driving at the Cup level for JTG/Daugherty Racing. "We've got a good package together as far as sponsors are concerned, but we don't have money to waste. So I think it's a good decision all around. I think NASCAR made the right call."

• Crewman who ran after tire suspended four races