Harvick sympathises with officials

Harvick narrowly beat Mark Martin to the finish line on the final lap of the race while several cars crashed behind them, but the yellow flag came out after they had crossed the line.

Martin accepted the decision of the stewards, and his Ginn Racing team have also admitted that they did not consider appealing.

It meant that Harvick was able to take his first Daytona 500 victory, and he said that he wouldn't have wanted to be the one making the decision.

"There's no right or wrong answer," he said. "It's a hard spot to be in. I'm glad I don't make those calls.

"If you don't throw the caution, you're in hot water, and if you do throw the caution, you're in hot water."

Harvick feels that the situation at Daytona was unique, as last-lap accidents normally take place earlier than on the final turn.

"I don't know that we've ever come off turn four and had the circumstances be that way before," he said.

"We've wrecked at the end before, but the caution has come out on the backstretch or something like that."