By alley - Apr 29, 2016, 3:53 PM ET

NASCAR: Stewart still puzzled by fine

Despite an explanation from NASCAR chairman Brian France, Tony Stewart remains somewhat puzzled over his $35,000 fine.

The three-time Sprint Cup champion criticized NASCAR's decision to stop enforcing the number of lug nuts installed on each wheel during pit stops last week, indirectly questioning its commitment to safety. NASCAR responded with a fine but also listened, changing the rules to again enforce the fastening all five lug nuts, effective immediately. Stewart said it was money well spent if that's what it took to force NASCAR's hand.

"You hate to have to pay $35,000 to get someone's attention to do something, but apparently that's what it took," Stewart said during a Friday media session at Talladega. "I've got some questions that I'd like to have answers to, though. I'm still wondering why I'm paying a $35,000 fine for something that got changed three days later.

"But, it is what it is."

The Sprint Cup Drivers Council initially

said it would collectively pay the fine

as a statement of unity and disagreement with NASCAR's fine, but Stewart chose to pay it in full. Instead, the council donated their combined money to the Autism Delaware charity, which was founded by NASCAR on Fox coordinating director Artie Kempner.

"I didn't want to take their money," Stewart said. "I appreciated their support and I think they made a huge statement about what the Driver Council is all about and the fact that they didn't believe what I did warranted a fine...

"So we decided as a group to put the money together and give it to a great charity. Artie Kempner is a great friend to everybody in NASCAR and is somebody that we all know personally. We thought it would really make a big difference, so that's why we chose that charity. We did it collectively, as a group, and that's something I'm really proud of with this Driver Council is how the drivers are united about everything that we do."

Appearing on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday, France tried to clear the air on why his office fined the three-time champion.

"He's part of the drivers council and he's an owner as well, so he has a direct line to express those views, which he did not do," France said. "We listen very carefully because their opinions are very important. When you imply that NASCAR doesn't care about safety, you can expect a reaction from us."

Stewart jokingly retorted on Friday that he was just given France's cellphone number, so France should expect a call at the most awkward times possible.

"I'm happy I've got that now," Stewart said. "I might call him at midnight to see if I can get a hold of him, only because I'm up at that hour. I just want to see if Brian is up at that hour.

"He will probably call me back at six in the morning to see if I'm up, which, won't work very well for me either."

Stewart said he has tried to have those conversations with NASCAR behind closed doors but they don't always get addressed until they are shared in a public forum.

"We do have those conversations, but sometimes I think the sense of urgency and the sense that this is really is an issue sometimes gets numbed with everything else that is going on," Stewart said. "That was something with the lug nuts that it was proof that it was getting worse not better. Sometimes you've got to shake them.

"Apparently, I shook too hard."