Rival Holden team boss Adrian Burgess has defended Ludo Lacroix's decision to leave Red Bull Racing after the defecting Supercars race engineer was accused of being "duplicitous".
RBR owner Roland Dane took a swipe at his long-time right hand man Lacroix on Fox Sports TV over his move next year to Ford's DJR Team Penske, saying he didn't tell him where he was going.
He compared Lacroix's defection after 17 seasons together to how Burgess handled his move from RBR to Holden Racing Team in 2013.
"When Adrian left he was honest about it," Dane said.
"Ludo hasn't been, which is a shame but it's what happens."
HRT managing director Burgess could empathise with Lacroix.
"It's a difficult position Ludo was in," he told Inside Supercars TV.
"For whatever reason he's made that mental decision with his family no doubt to make a change in his life.
"It's difficult when you leave one team and go to another.
"Everyone tries to be professional.
"I wanted to come out with it early and tell RD (Dane) what was going on but then you get sent home and put in the garden for six months."
Just like Burgess in 2013, Lacroix has been sidelined for the rest of the season - placed on "gardening leave" - by Dane since his defection news broke.
"I actually texted Ludo on weekend and asked him to come around and cut the grass for me," Burgess laughed.
Lacroix was race engineer for Craig Lowndes this year.
The Supercars veteran driver said he was not surprised by Dane's reaction.
Lacroix was benched before last weekend's penultimate round, the Auckland SuperSprint.
The season will conclude with next month's Sydney 500.
"I think it's the way it was all delivered to everyone was probably the thing that hurt Roland the most," Lowndes said.
"He's had such a great relationship.
"He's had a long journey along with Roland in his career and growing teams, not just this team."
At DJR Team Penske next season, Lacroix will work with Kiwi pair Fabian Coulthard and new signing Scott McLaughlin.
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