Jay Howard (photo courtesy of indycar.com)

One IZOD IndyCar Series driver is responding to controversial comments made by NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson following the death of Dan Wheldon last weekend.

England native Jay Howard says Johnson's comments were disrespectful to the industry and to Wheldon's family. Johnson said Monday that IndyCar should stop running races on oval courses and stick to road and street courses.

"I just want to say to Jimmie Johnson, he needs to shut up and keep his opinions to himself," Howard told our partners at Fox59 Wednesday.

Johnson later clarified his remarks saying he specifically meant driving on high-banked oval courses such as Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Howard says no one would even be questioning the issue if the crash hadn't happened.

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