Sydney, Jan 30 : Red Bull ace driver Mark Webber has for the first time spoken about his friendship with banned cyclist Lance Armstrong and why they are no longer friends.

Webber said he spent time at Armstrong’s Texas ranch in 2004 and caught up with him until 2008 when their friendship ended.

In his column for the BBC, Webber said that their friendship ended in 2008 when Armstrong let his partner Ann and him down after they had organized passes for him for the Monaco Grand Prix.

According to News. com. au, he said that Red Bull Racing had gone out of their way to meet all of his demands, which were not inconsiderable, but he (Armstrong) failed to show up without a word of an apology.

Webber added that heir friendship was also affected with persistent rumours about Armstrong being a serial liar and a drug cheat.

The Red Bull racer said lies and doping are inexcusable and he believed Armstrong deserves a tough penalty. (ANI)