Burton apologises for McMurray crash.

Daytona 500 polesitter Jeff Burton admitted that her made a mistake in his efforts to salvage a good result from a disappointing race after pushing Jamie McMurray into the turn two wall late in the race.

Despite leading the first 18 laps in his #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Burton struggled to get a handle on his car in traffic and slipped back into the ranks of the also-rans for much of the day.

In the closing laps as everyone scrambled for position, Burton tried to block the fast approaching McMurray in turn two on lap 196, tagging the Roush Racing driver and sending both cars into the outside wall. Bobby Labonte and Denny Hamlin also slid into the slowing cars, ending Labonte's run and that of McMurray.

Although Burton was able to limp round and stay on the lead lap, 32nd place, the final car on the lead lap, was all he could manage. After the race, he was quick to apologise.

"We just didn't handle very well today," said Burton, who was one of several drivers to really struggle in the damp and misty conditions. "I was afraid of that going into the race. There at the end I tried to make something happen I shouldn't been trying to make happen. I wrecked some people and feel bad about that and just made a mistake."