Harvick, Johnson warned

The pair were battling for second place when they made contact at the exit of Turn Two on lap 37. The resulting chaos caught up several other front-runners - with Harvick coming off worst as his car hit the wall and was then T-boned by Joe Nemechek. Other drivers caught up in the accident included Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Scott Riggs and Dave Blaney.

Although no immediate action was taken against both drivers for their part in the accident, the duo were summoned to see NASCAR officials and warned about their future conduct. The two drivers were also expected to hold a private meeting to sort out their troubles.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said : "If they get into it again, there could be some severe penalties - like missing a race."

Johnson was furious at what happened. "I was riding along and he pulled his head off his shoulders and tried bump-drafting in the turn," he said. "I guess all those years of watching TV and worshipping racing like he says he did - he didn't watch much of it and realise you're not supposed to bump-draft in the middle of the turn.

"It's a shame. He just tore up six or seven good racecars. I hope Childress either fires him or NASCAR does something about him, because this is ridiculous - absolutely ridiculous."

Harvick defended himself by claiming that it was Johnson who had been in the wrong. "I just got to him and he checked up and I got to him and I couldn't get off him," Harvick said. "I just spun him out and I feel sorry for the teams and everybody involved.

"It's not something where you want to bump draft in the middle of the corner. But I hate it. But I just got to him and he slowed down and got sideways, and I got the back of him."