JOLIET, Ill. -- Car owner Ray Evernham says he and Jeremy Mayfield "don't have any issues,'' and explained his recent absences from NASCAR Nextel Cup races as the cost of building his race team.

Evernham and Mayfield met the media Sunday morning, two days after comments by Mayfield raised questions about Evernham's commitment to the Cup program. Mayfield is mired in one of his worst seasons and Friday said he had not had much contact lately with his car owner. Evernham had missed the last two Cup races as he attended truck series races where developmental driver Erin Crocker competed.

Evernham's absences have been noteworthy because he rarely misses Cup weekends and is among the small group of car owners at the track most weekends. Evernham says he'll likely miss more races as his organization grows and sponsor commitments take more time. He has three Cup teams, one Busch team and one truck series team.

Also, Mayfield raised questions Friday about his future with the team, although his contract goes through next year and has a two-year option.

Evernham was asked if it was certain Mayfield would be with the team through next season.

"We're going to talk about that,'' Evernham said of Mayfield's contract status. "We're concentrating on this year, on getting this thing fixed. We don't have to talk about that option until August or September.''

New date for Indy?

Dick Glover, NASCAR vice president of broadcasting and new media, said that series officials have had talks about moving the Indianapolis race from early August to late July next season to accommodate ESPN's return.

Next year begins NASCAR's new TV package. Fox will broadcast the Daytona 500 and the next 12 races through the Coca-Cola 600. TNT will do the next six races, taking it through race No. 18 on the schedule.

That would mean ESPN would make its debut at Pocono and then broadcast the race at Indy. An option would be to move Indianapolis up so that it corresponds with ESPN's first race. That would allow ESPN to trumpet its return in promotions with one of the sport's highest-profile races.

NASCAR typically doesn't announce the new schedule until late summer.

Pit stops

Jimmie Johnson placed sixth, the worst he's finished in five Cup races at this track. ... Kurt Busch finished eighth for his fifth consecutive top-10. ... Richard Childress Racing placed all three of its cars in the top-10 with Jeff Burton second, Kevin Harvick fourth and rookie Clint Bowyer ninth. ... Todd Kluever, making his Cup debut, finished 41st. ... Robert Yates Racing continued to struggle. Elliott Sadler was 29th and Dale Jarrett placed 31st.