Waltrip says part taken by mistake

Waltrip, co-owner of one of the Toyota teams in the Sprint Cup series garage, also confirmed that his team gave the part back to Roush Fenway once their management became aware of having it.

"It was a mistake," he said. "Look at the back of these toolboxes. There are sway bars, there's jack handles, and it wound up in our possession. We called them and said, 'We want to give this back.'"

Waltrip tried to downplay the issue and said he had no hard feelings against Roush, who has described the incident as a case of theft.

"I don't know his motives and I don't want to comment on them," Waltrip added. "I read his comments that he was upset at Atlanta and he's better now. I understand getting upset - it happens to me sometimes. I don't have any ill will towards him or anything he said."

He also questioned Roush's claims about the intellectual property he believes to have over the part, which Waltrip joked he could build himself.

"I've always looked up to Jack and hate that he's all spun out about this," Waltrip said. "To me, anything that I understand how to make can't be too proprietary and I think I could make a sway bar in an afternoon if I was forced to do so."