Breaking: Danica Patrick Banned From Nascar

Danica Patrick is among those confused about what drivers can and can’t say in the wake of Tony Stewart’s $35,000 fine.

Stewart was fined last week after speaking out about NASCAR’s lack of a lug nut policy, which he called unsafe. NASCAR then changed its rule on Monday, but it kept the fine in place.

And Patrick, who drives for the team co-owned by Stewart, wasn’t too happy with the decision.

“I feel like my answer should be I have no idea what I can say that’s not going to get me fined, other than nothing,” Patrick told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s my answer. That’s actually how mad I am about it, too.

“It’s very hard to know what you can do or say anymore that’s not going to get you in trouble – depending on the day or time or whatever.”

Patrick said she felt bad for Stewart and added that NASCAR seems to treat drivers like employees rather than the independent contractors they really are.

“It seems extremely inappropriate to go ahead and follow through with (changes) and require five lug nuts but still maintain a fine for someone who questioned the very topic,” she said.

Many teams had experienced loose tires this season, but the trend was growing at races before Stewart spoke out. He expressed concern that a wheel could come off in-race, injuring a driver or fan. Crews have been self-policing lug nuts since NASCAR cut back on the number of officials on pit road in 2015. Some teams were putting as few as three lug nuts on a tire to get a quicker stop and pick up some spots on the track.

Patrick has been fined $70,000 by NASCAR in the last five months. In November, she was fined $50,000 for retaliating against David Gilliland during a race at Martinsville Speedway. Last month, she was fined $20,000 for walking toward Kasey Kahne’s moving car after he wrecked her at Auto Club Speedway.