Craig Lowndes admits he was caught off-guard by technical director Ludo Lacroix jumping ship for DJR's Team Penske in 2017.
But he says he wasn't surprised at Red Bull boss Roland Dane labelling the Frenchman as dishonest.
Lacroix was stood down from all team operations ahead of the Pukekohe Supercars round after it was revealed he would be heading to the rival Ford outfit for next season.
Dane had worked with Lacroix for almost 20 years and while he knew he was leaving Triple Eight Racing at the end of the season, he claimed the move was "duplicitous" once discovering it was to head to another team.
And Triple Eight's Lowndes said while understood the move was the way of competitive sport, he could also acknowledge Dane's emotions.
"I think Roland took it more personally than anyone, and so he should," Lowndes said while watching Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour.
"It's one thing to move on, but it's another thing to go to another team.
"And for Roland it's more of a kick in the guts than for anyone."
The distraction did little to hurt the dominant Holden team at Pukekohe where Jamie Whincup and Shave Van Gisbergen each claimed race wins at the New Zealand round.
They will also reclaim the drivers' championship in Sydney early next month, with Van Gisbergan all but certain to win the title unless he stumbles and hands it to Whincup.
And Lowndes believes it's a sign that the move won't begin a slide of the Triple Eight juggernaut, which has now won the past seven teams' championships.
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