Wallace says Newman was fired

UPDATE Newman said Friday at Indy that it wasn't the case, that Roger and he decided mutually not continue. PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show

07/25/08 It appears the bad blood that existed between Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman as teammates at Penske Racing isn't gone. Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wallace said the perception that Newman and team owner Roger Penske mutually agreed to part ways next season was inaccurate. Instead, Wallace claims Newman was let go by Penske because of criticism toward the team for its performance this season.

Told of Wallace’s claims, Newman stood by his statements and questioned Wallace’s motives for saying what he did.

"He didn’t leave [Penske]," Wallace said Friday. “… Roger Penske called Ryan Newman up to his office and said, ‘I don’t need your services next year.’ Ryan Newman didn’t come to him and say, 'I’m leaving.’ That’s exactly how it went down."

Newman disputed that version of events.

“I don’t know what Rusty’s grounds are, or what he’s trying to prove by saying that," Newman said. “That wasn’t the case – point blank. Roger and I decided mutually to not continue and it was more my decision than it was his, I would say. I’ve said our goals didn’t align and for that reason and for that reason alone we decided not to continue after 2008." Scenedaily.com