Stewart’s Indy Sideshow
SpeedReading
By DAVE
MOO
Tony Stewart made an
unannounced visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, for the final day
of qualifying for the 88th
Stewart’s mere presence at
the Brickyard whipped the ever-present media hoard into an instant dither. When
he wandered into A.J. Foyt’s garage area, the dither became a dull roar. IRL
officials soon announced that Stewart had taken and passed a pre-qualifying
physical, and when he emerged from the garage moments later -- wearing a
firesuit -- and slid into one of Foyt’s backup cars for a test fitting, the
dull roar became a full-fledged feeding frenzy. Stewart spent the next hour or
so confabbing with Foyt’s crew, while coyly refusing to comment on exactly
what he was doing, or why.
Finally, with just 45 minutes
remaining in the final qualifying session, Stewart huddled with his longtime
manager, Cary Agajanian. After speaking briefly in hushed tones, the former IRL
and NASCAR Nextel Cup champion stepped up to the microphones to announce that
his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing does not allow him to drive Indy Cars at the
Brickyard.
Tony already knew that, of course, as did everyone
else on Gasoline Alley. He also knew that he drives a Chevrolet in the Nextel
Cup series, while Foyt's team uses
“(The problem) was on the stock-car side of
things,” admitted Stewart, adding that there was no doubt in his mind that he
could still get the job done in an Indy Car. In his words, “They’re not
running speeds I haven’t run before. We've got 365 days to put something
together for next year. I've got the fever now."
Orchestrated as it was, Stewart’s soap opera did
accomplish one thing. It gave ABC something to talk about during an
afternoon-long, live broadcast that otherwise featured all the drama and
suspense of the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Just 33 drivers attempted qualifying for
this year’s 33-car
Stewart – a better racer
than actor – struggled to keep a straight face Sunday, eventually admitting,
"We had you guys fooled, because it wasn't a real serious deal when I got
here."
No, Tony, you didn’t fool anyone. All you
accomplished was to embarrass yourself and the once-great race you claim to
love, adding a sad dose of false drama into a day that was otherwise duller than
dishwater. Unfortunately, all the B-movie sideshows in the world won’t change
the fact that you remain winless on the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. They
won’t change the fact that you already trail Dale Earnhardt, Jr. by nearly 200
points in the battle for the Nextel Cup championship. And they won't add any
respectability to a 2004 season long on controversy and short on
competitiveness.
Last week, in the aftermath of
his latest dust-up with television commentator Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart
said he said he might just leave the NASCAR circuit altogether, in favor of a
purer, less-restrictive form of racing.
Sunday’s sideshow may have been a good first step
on that road.
rrr
NASCAR admitted Tuesday what Carl Edwards already knew; the caution
lights came momentarily on lap 130 of Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Edwards was leading the race when Chad
Chaffin’s Dodge hit the wall and began shedding parts on the backstretch.
Seeing the yellow caution lights come on, Edwards slowed down, only to have
runner-up Dennis Setzer storm past when the caution signal was inexplicably
turned off again. Setzer went on to win the race, while an upset Edwards settled
for a second-place finish.
A Monday review of in-car
camera footage confirmed the error, and officials concluded that the switch
controlling the caution lights in the flagman’s stand was momentarily
triggered. NASCAR has apologized to Edwards and his Jack Roush team, with
Craftsman Truck Series Director Wayne Auton saying, “We made a mistake on this
one. It is regrettable, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure this
doesn’t happen again. We apologize to Carl Edwards and everyone associated
with the No. 99 Superchips Ford.” Unfortunately, changes can not be made to
the official race results, since a handful of laps were run after the error
occurred.
“NASCAR officials have a tough job,” said a
gracious Edwards Tuesday. “They made a mistake in the heat of the moment that
turned out to be a critical one for me, and I lost a race on account of the
mistake. I appreciate that they accepted responsibility for the mistake in a
public way. I wasn’t looking forward to being remembered as “the rookie who
blew it,” and I’m relieved that NASCAR has set the record straight.”
rrr
For the third time in
recent weeks, spectators threw cans and other debris on the racetrack following
Saturday night’s Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
"I had a full beer can hit the car," said
defending Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth afterward. "I don't like stuff
hitting the car, but there's nothing you can do about five or six individuals, I
guess."
Flying debris was also a problem at
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Short
(Track) Subjects…
…
"I think the Dirt Modified race will draw a
lot of fans and cars, and put on a good show," said
…There is no shortage of history at Thunder
Road’s Memorial Day Classic, much of it belonging to favorite son
“Dynamite” Dave Dion. Between 1975 and 1978 – during the original NASCAR
North Tour days -- the
In stark contrast to Dion’s dominance, there have
been 10 different “Memorial Day Classic” winners in the past 10 years,
including last year’s victor, Pete Fecteau.
…Tomorrow night, the weekend racing schedule
kicks off when the ACT New England Dodge Tour returns to Twin State Speedway for
a second try at the inaugural “Sonny Fleury Memorial 100.” Two weeks ago, 33
Late Models were vying for 26 starting spots when heavy rains forced the plug to
be pulled. A total of 16 drivers, including defending ACT champion Jean-Paul
Cyr, point leader Brent Dragon, 2003 ACT runner-up Todd Stone and three-time
Thunder Road champion Phil Scott are already qualified for the race, as are Mark
Lamberton and Cris Michaud, who will start on the front row.
Saturday, NASCAR’s Busch North Series invades the
Riverside Speedway in
Sunday,