Busch praises Newman's recognition

Over the week, Newman has repeatedly praised his teammate's attitude on the track, which was crucial to giving Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 victory. Busch said he appreciates Newman's gesture, but believes he has been given more credit than what he is due.

"I'm so appreciative of what he's said and what he's done in his interviews," Busch said. "I think our relationship is shining through.

"He knew that he won that race and I give him all the credit in the world for positioning himself in the high groove at the right moment, so that I could push him. I love the fact that I was a small part.

"But he took the car the way that he needed to do to win that race and I'm sure that he's just exhausted the fact that I've helped him this week and I'm very happy that he's given me some of that credit."

"He's given me all of the credit. He needs to just absorb it more for himself and say you know what - I won the 500."

Busch said the relationship with Newman is currently a very constructive one, as he thinks Penske Racing is not yet at the level where drivers should start being selfish and hiding information from each other.

In 2005, Busch was one of five drivers from Roush Fenway Racing who made the Chase for the Sprint Cup title. He says such a situation would make things different from what they currently are at Penske.

"When I came over I was working with Newman and showed him that he could trust me, and that there is going to be that belief in one another that we need to get our teams from running tenth and twelfth every week up to one and two," Busch added.

"It's always tough when the teams are on top. Like at Roush Racing back in 2005, we put five cars in the Chase. That's when everybody is on top of their game and that's when you start holding back information, is when you have to beat your own teammate if you want to win.

"Now that our teams are doing better we're not at that point, but we're sharing information."

The 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion still has yet to win his first Daytona 500.