ATLANTA - doubt executives Paramount Pictures feel ts Memorial Day weekend it ready fourth installment Indiana Jones franchise. Indiana native Tony Stewart, Memorial Day weekend bn important, provides motorsports mosaic, fm stock cars Charlotte, N.C., sports cars Lime Rock, Conn., cornerstone event weekend — Indianapolis 500.
Indy Stewart’s Temple Vrrooom. recently td 37-year-old grew 45 minutes corner 16th Street Georgetown Road Columbus. in-person look Indy 500 wn five, eighth birthday, Stewart content spectator.
His ft go-kart race 1978 Westport, Ind. ft go-kart win ce 1979 Westport. go-kart championships 1980 Columbus Fairgrounds. we prelude come, Stewart win United Auto Club (USAC) championships, IRL IndyCar Series title, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships final International Race Champions crown.
Along tt path, particularly Stewart champion USAC 1994, won USAC “Triple Crown” 1995 advanced Indy cars 1996, Hoosier sd destined mainstay Indy. would, stock cars.
Like or promising open-wheelers, Stewart racing home NASCAR. ran five-race NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule 1997 we simultaneously capturing IndyCar Series championship. Twenty-two Nationwide Series races followed 1998 preparation rookie Sprint Cup 1999.
With exception “Double Duty” stints 1999 2001 we Stewart competed Indianapolis 500 Coca-Cola 600 se weekend, Stewart hasn’t looked back.
But tt doesn’t mean tt driver No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing forgotten Indy. contrary, en living racing cars fenders, month means Indy, pull Stewart td 16th Georgetown wn fe age 37.
With eye Indy unified ranks open-wheel racing, Stewart ar eye focused squarely stock car set Charlotte.
That evident tn lt Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. untrained eye, appear Stewart uneventful evening. did, driving fifth 24-car field, Stewart crew chief Greg Zipadelli fd car course 100-lap, non-points race, ao observing differing pit strategies counterparts.
It prelude race Sprint Cup schedule — Coca-Cola 600. Sunday afternoon/evening affair shaping kd race Stewart Zipadelli thrive. Traditionally strong lg runs, 400-lap race tailor-made No. 20 team. Te propensity long, green flag runs Coca-Cola 600, caution-free All-Star Race indication, long, green flag runs wl play prominent role year’s 600.
Built-in adjustability key one’s race car handle transition fm hot muggy afternoon sun slightly cooler crisper nighttime conditions. ability adjust fly hallmark No. 20 team 10 years, 32 wins championships together. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, they’ll look add te impressive numbers.
Tony Stewart, driver No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing:
You solid fifth-place finish Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Charlotte, especially considering fm 24-car field. learn fm All-Star Race tt apply Coca-Cola 600?
“We oy hd laps it, ts week he 400 laps right. learned wt track position about. watched doing. Guys tt experimented tires, tires fr tires, tt 25 laps, it’s definitely paid attention to.”
The Coca-Cola 600 te segments — daytime, twilight nighttime. strategy employ race me you’re competitive race?
“Early 600 you’re running conditions you’re finish race in, obviously. start what’s typically real hot day track slippery lot grip. You’re basically jt trying stay lead lap, wh eh pit stop, you’re adjusting car wh changing track conditions. You’re mg adjustability built yr setup, sun goes dn track starts changing, you’re able adjust yr car accordingly.”
Is te strategy middle pt race, you’ve bn racing time finish lg off?
“From start race, pit stop, you’re wg yr race car trying run. Te teams gd nowadays time ty wk race car, they’re gg me better. constantly communicate crew chief race team tell nd car it’s doing, doing tt don’t like. That’s biggest challenge.”
How approach 100 miles Coca-Cola 600?
“We races backward. don’t pay attention laps you’ve run. pay attention laps left. my laps segment comes tt segment right. sd lt segment, yr ft don’t pass lot cars green flag segment. pretty mh ws race backward, that’s plan strategy.”
Do drive conservatively onset Coca-Cola 600 save equipment extra 100 miles?
“No. 600 wn start race it’s daytime it’s sl fairly warm. Tt race temperature ks gg track conditions changing. It’s jt matter mg you’re staying changing track conditions. track’s tightened loosened up, you’ve me segment race kw nd changed car yf ready segment.”
Is Coca-Cola 600 me stressful engine department?
“The motor guys. Fm team’s standpoint, we’ve day night car. motor guys, ty ry sweat out, it’s there, it’s there. There’s mh ty it.”
You NASCAR IRL IndyCar Series, sl pay close attention open-wheel racing month May. said, mh br racing tt open-wheel racing finally unified?
“It’s better. te me cars available br situation. Bump day truly Bump Day again, that’s gd thing.”
You Indy earlier month. there, sense little excitement tt premiere open-wheel series?
“I tk everybody’s excited people it’s now. It’s it’s meant win Indy, wt reunification me tn was. En yr wh teams tt — Andretti-Green, Ganassi, Penske — cars ty tt competitive shot winning race impressive. sl he groups, coming guys Graham Rahal, adds me excitement. feel potential Indy 500s time.”
Do pick year’s Indy 500 winner?
“You count Ganassi Racing. count Penske Racing Michael Andretti’s teams. Te te organizations week week leading contenders comes oval racing IRL expect ls tm year.”
After finally winning Allstate 400 Brickyard, wl winning ft NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, it’s le weight lifted shoulders finally don’t he answer question, “When win championship/Brickyard 400?” Danica Patrick lr answer question, “When gg win,?” enjoy Indy little bit more, th there’s sl pressure win open-wheel’s biggest race?
“Yeah, doesn’t matter races you’ve won. It’s sl Indianapolis 500. It’s sl Holy Grail. could’ve won 50 Indy car races, haven’t won Indy, you’re absolutely nervous person world walk dn Gasoline Alley grid. don’t care my race wins have, sl makes nervous, rightfully so.”
The goings-on Indy happen you’re enduring arguably busier weeks Charlotte. able pay attention Indy?
“As mh can. time TV on, I’m watching. Darlington, example, watching pole day qualifying driver’s meeting driver introductions. watch I’m able watch. goes race day. Sunday, I’m able sleep late start time us, wn I’m house watch mh be leave track, tn oe I’m track watch race.”
What yr childhood memory Indy?
“I father. we se bus luggage rack it. o-dark-30 bus ride Indy race day. Ty threw luggage rack. Sy ge pillow ey started throwing jackets warm. ride home wasn’t nearly cool, lg day track, dad kd rowdy. probably fe old. sat ts te four. rows up, rt middle short chute. hard hardly anything. cars fast. we blur. te cars ur caution smell methanol fumes everything, sl pretty cool.”
When raced USAC eye td Indy, regard running Indy car. drivers running USAC sl sm sights set Indy, it’s regard running stock car. caused change?
“Jeff Gordon probably biggest influence. lot success USAC — won lot races. wasn’t handed opportunity NASCAR. earned there. Wn opportunity NASCAR, lot opportunities drivers myself. TV package tt USAC time Thursday Night Thunder Series ESPN, brought guys fm country recognition cd earned fm running USAC. guys coming Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Wisconsin Illinois participate USAC races be Jeff’s success opportunity tt NASCAR. Indy cars weren’t option time unless brought big-dollar sponsor, weren’t gg ride. Jeff success dn South, boosted everybody’s spirits helped USAC reality tt ty results Jeff track, tn happen tm too.”
You ts year, desire te Brickyard Indy car despite ft it’s probably realistic be you’re full-time Sprint Cup driver?
“Logistics-wise, it’s impossible Sprint Cup driver. Wh start time bg is, there’s window wt nd Indy Charlotte car time start race. happen road Cup career, wn ends? nr know. I’ve learned never.”
Mark Cronquist, head engine builder Joe Gibbs Racing:
All te Joe Gibbs Racing cars experienced engine trouble dg All-Star Race weekend — No. 20 team practice Nos. 11 18 teams race. Wt happened?
“It engine package us. Basically, tr engine packages depending wt we’re doing race. ts wasn’t last. personally 350 miles, didn’t. guys shop kept trying tell or stuff kept saying, ‘You All-Star Race win everything.’ engine guys look race wh ‘checkers wreckers’ attitude, ‘checkers wreckers’ kd overruled me. jt tried much.”
Even th engines didn’t last, he br understanding push tm reliable?
“We kw broke. En wt try racing package, fix part. That’s weak link. fix tt 450 miles. wr breaks there, fix pt 650 miles. Then, we’re racing package. We’re en it. That’s thing. bad blew motors — actually wn count No. 20 practice. Tt sucks, hindsight probably should’ve tested little bit me shop me se distance All-Star Race, kw tt rocker arm pm that’s sg fix.”
You should’ve tested more, realistic considering around-the-clock staff he doing me transition Chevrolet Toyota?
“That’s advantage wt All-Star Race offered. guns loaded, it’s tt os wt little bit early. I’m All-Star Race special motors. gained lot should’ve little bit maybe ran little conservative. Hindsight 20/20 it’s easy tt stupid, win races, finish second.”
Looking ahead Coca-Cola 600 — race Sprint Cup schedule — comfort level be learned All-Star Race, additional 100 miles, te bit trepidation yr part?
“My stomach knotted up, is, lot people don’t realize this, tt Darlington actually ps cycles engine tn Charlotte does. ran lot practice Darlington. extra practice te asphalt. actually, cycle-wise Darlington, se Coca-Cola 600 lt wh practice sessions. gd look stuff Darlington looked good. So, we’re feeling pretty chances io 600 Charlotte.”
- credit: jgr
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