AP

Kevin Harvick defended his boss and friend Tony Stewart, saying the three-time NASCAR champion would never try and run down another driver.

Kevin Ward Jr. was sent into the wall when his car was bumped by Stewart's in a dirt-track race Saturday night at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park. Ward got out of the car and walked onto the track, where he was hit by Stewart.

"Tony Stewart is a great person," Harvick said Wednesday. "I know in my heart he would never do anything like that on purpose. We just have to let it all play out. I do know that Tony is a great friend of mine, I've known him a long time, and he probably has the biggest heart of anybody in that garage."

Harvick, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick and Stewart make up the four-car team at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Stewart has not announced if he'll race Sunday in the NASCAR event at Michigan International Speedway.

No charges have been filed against Stewart. Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said Tuesday the crash investigation will continue at least another two weeks.

"There a lot of things going on, a lot of things you don't understand, with the sensitivity of the situation," Harvick said. "I spent some time with the team just making sure everyone's ready to go this weekend. If you look at what's going on with our specific race team, I feel like the guys are ready to go."

Harvick left Richard Childress Racing to join SHR in 2014.