the curious behavior of Tony Stewart

[rush1]

Any of you who watched the last hours of quals at Indy witnessed the rampant speculation of Tony Stewart trying to qualify one of AJ Foyts cars for the Indy 500.

I thought it was a rather sad farse and I believe Tony had no intention of ever getting in the car. It looked as though the last hours of qualifying were going to be washed out and I don't think Tony ever thought they would be able to dry the track. Instead we got Tony coming out and standing by Foyts cars while everyone waited for him to get in. Nothing happened.

Stewart is no dummy, he had about as much chance of winning the 500 in one of Foyts cars as Marty Simmons has of winning the 500. Stewart could easily find a good ride with a quality team, but didn't look into that possibility beforehand. Instead he decides hours before qualifying is over to jump into one of Foyts clunkers? Please.

Jacque Lazier was cleared to drive but had to make way for the circus, a quality driver and the chance of actual bumping lost in the nonsense, very sad.

Tony Stewart was one of the sharpest critics of CART in 1996. He said Indy didn't need CART but apparently Stewart didn't need Indy as he bolted for NASCAR. A lot of fans waited around for you to qualify Tony. Next time you should treat them and IMS with more respect.

[rush1]

That would be Jeff Simmons instead of Marty

[marcus]

marty simmonds ??????


I guess a show was trying to be put on for bump day

I didnt see it BTW but at least we got a full grid now

[marcus]

[Down F0rce]

Tony even had a seat fitting. Strange. Not quite sure what the point of it was. Tony does really want to race at Indy again, but if he had no intention of racing this year why did he get a seat fitted?

[gomick]

why would tony (who is a winner) want to race for aj foyt (whose cars are losers)

[racer69]

Didn't Stewart say last year (when he was linked with AGR to replace Franchitti) then he wasn't interested in doing the double again, and would only return to Indy when he was finished in NASCAR?

[enemy-ace]

I doubt Stewart's contract would allow him to race an IRL car, the risk is just to great. It would be nice to see him at Indy again but unless Home Depot wants to go there I seriously doubt we'll see Tony at the Brickyard again.
Here's Robin Miller's take on the whole fiasco.
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/11207/

[Down F0rce]

"We had you guys fooled because it wasn't a real serious deal when I got here," said Stewart.

I really hope this was taken out of context, otherwise thats a very poor attitude to have. Seems like it was just a show to get out hopes up.

I would much rather have had Jaques Lazier trying to qualify anyway.

[rustyfan]

Can't say I was very surprised when I read his latest piece this morning - these days it seems all Mr. Miller can do is whine and rant (and this comes from someone who used to be a big fan of his articles a couple of years ago!).

Just my personal opinion, of course.

[Team Owner]

#1 Seats take a minimum of 2 days to make and the IRL won't allow you to use a seat that is not specifically made for you. Tony arrived at the track Sunday morning and didn't start this charade untill well into the afternoon.
#2 Tony admitted that he had been up in a suite drinking beer which allerted the IRL officials that possibly he wasn't fit to run.
#3 There wasn't a safety sticker on the back of his helmet from Dr. Bock and the IRL pit tech will not allow you to take to the track without it even if Tony George and Brian are standing there.
#4 Some of us in the Paddock knew Wednesday that this was going to happen but kept quiet.
#5 The media, and some fans were treated to a scam worthy of praise by PT Barnum and are too dumb to know it. Stewart is grooming Josh Wise for an IPS ride and will probably have an IRL team next year with Larry Curry running it but only participate in the 500

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Team Owner
Stewart is grooming Josh Wise for an IPS ride and will probably have an IRL team next year with Larry Curry running it but only participate in the 500

Now that would be great - will be real interesting to see how that deal develops.

Thanks, as always, for the info Team Owner!

[GP Racer]

It appears by all accounts, that Tony seems to be heading for a crash, and I don't mean with a car either. His erratic behavior, both in and out of the car, is beginning to become obnoxious, and alot of important people in NASCAR don't seem to happy about it either.

Drinking at the track? Maybe he's got a problem...

Who put this show on anyway? TG, AJ, or was it Tony on his own? Brian Barnhart seemed very annoyed at the whole charade on TV.

Here's a way out thought, since Tony is basically flipping everyone in NASCAR the bird these days, and doesn't seem to be enjoying his time there much anymore, is there any possibility of him returning to the IRL? I don't know what his NASCAR contract looks like, but maybe he wants to return to his roots, where there's less pressure, and he could be the star, and now that the IRL is on an upswing, the time could be right. As obnoxious as he has become, he would still be quite a draw for this series.

[jhansen]

I've heard similar thoughts GP Racer. I must admit to not knowing much about this "drama" other than what I've read here and on some news sites. But could this have been a PR stunt to get people interested in and talking about the IRL, bump day and the 500? Just a way out thought, but curious what some of you think. If it was I'll say it was a pretty lame attempt.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by GP Racer
It appears by all accounts, that Tony seems to be heading for a crash, and I don't mean with a car either. His erratic behavior, both in and out of the car, is beginning to become obnoxious, and alot of important people in NASCAR don't seem to happy about it either.

Drinking at the track? Maybe he's got a problem...

Who put this show on anyway? TG, AJ, or was it Tony on his own? Brian Barnhart seemed very annoyed at the whole charade on TV.

Here's a way out thought, since Tony is basically flipping everyone in NASCAR the bird these days, and doesn't seem to be enjoying his time there much anymore, is there any possibility of him returning to the IRL? I don't know what his NASCAR contract looks like, but maybe he wants to return to his roots, where there's less pressure, and he could be the star, and now that the IRL is on an upswing, the time could be right. As obnoxious as he has become, he would still be quite a draw for this series.

Remember that the spotlight is a lot brighter and the pressure a lot higher in NASCAR as opposed to what it is in IndyCar (for obvious reasons). I think he would fit in nicely. Do I think he would jump ship and give up the money he makes in NASCAR? Not likely, but given the latest signs of the pressure getting to him, not impossible either.

As for drinking at the track, well, sitting in one of the suites (presumably with a few buddies) having a couple of beers while watching the proceedings isn't what I would call "a problem". As Team Owner said (and as we could figure out for ourselves afterwards), Stewart knew well before the whole Oscar-performance started that he would never get out on track, so the beers weren't an issue, really.

[Tim Northcutt]

I think it was more of AJ's and Tony's doing than anything else....

But that's my opinion....

BTW...Team Owner, check your PMs on something a friend of mine told me the other day...

[drdisque]

you have to realize that tony stewart now has more money than he knows what to do with. he's not a terribly social person and has managed to get alot of the people in NASCAR ****ed at him. He's at a point in his life where he's realizing what HE really wants to do and that he has the resources to do it. Also, he likes being the center of attention and realizes that in NASCAR he can only be the center by being the biggest ass, but in the IRL he could the most charismatic driver as well as one of the most talented.

[mountainstar]

Based on comments stewart has made in the past on and off the record, I don't believe he will return to single seaters any time within the next 5-10 years. There was a interview I read of his 2 years ago in which he said he was worried a great deal about getting hurt in racing car and felt his chances were better in NASCAR. Also money was an issue and he felt he could make far more in NASCAR than the irl.

In my opinion I think the whole debacle on sunday was pre arranged, because they already knew there would be no bumping and they needed something to keep the interest up. If it was supposed to be a joke I wasn't laughing.

[JohnSSC]

I don't like being played and I think that is exactly what Tony and AJ were doing.

I have a lot of respect for T. Stewart the driver, but boy, you could spend weeks trying to figure out which rough edge to smooth out first on him. He is a real piece of work.

I wish he would just quiet down and go out there and prove that his reputation is not ill-founded.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by JohnSSC
I don't like being played and I think that is exactly what Tony and AJ were doing.

I have a lot of respect for T. Stewart the driver, but boy, you could spend weeks trying to figure out which rough edge to smooth out first on him. He is a real piece of work.

I wish he would just quiet down and go out there and prove that his reputation is not ill-founded.

But imagine how boring it would be if we didn't have Tony Stewart doing his thing. Ok, perhaps not that boring, but I personally believe - even though some of it might lack a certain finesse - that in all his roughness, Tony Stewart represents something that has gone nearly missing; a purebread, diehard racer that, really, could care less about what others think about him.

If I was a religious man - which I'm not - I'd thank the higher powers that NASCAR hasn't been able to shut him up (and it's not like they haven't done their best trying over and over again), that they haven't been able to smooth him out to just another sponsor-blabbin' puppet.

True, the prank on Sunday was a bit silly and I thought it was a bit dumb myself when I first learned about it. Now, however, having had a chance to think about it, I think it's pretty funny, and an obvious evidence that Tony Stewart might not be the most popular driver in the garage (even before this little stunt) but boy, does he attract attention or what?

I now actually hope he will grow tired of the politics in NASCAR and make the jump back to IndyCar. Given the much shorter schedule it'd give him more time to play with his sprint cars too

[JohnSSC]

honestly I think his heart is in open wheel but $$ speak loudly and so for the time being it is NASCAR for him.

But what a weird field trip it was for him!

[Team Owner]

Originally posted by JohnSSC
honestly I think his heart is in open wheel but $$ speak loudly and so for the time being it is NASCAR for him.

But what a weird field trip it was for him!

You are correct sir ! Tony makes the money in Nascar that enables him to have the other teams that he has, midget, sprint, Silver Crown and WOO. I think he will have an IRL team sooner rather than later but someone else will drive it for the full season and he will be only an Indy 500 driver and maybe one other race that wouldn't conflict with his schedule. I know Tony well enough to say that there are may owners in Nascar that would hire him immediately and let him run any open wheel races that he wanted too. Richard Childress has a standing offer to Tony to come drive for him for a very large sum of money. Seems that the fine folks at GM kinda miss the charector they had in Earnhardt and don't feel that Harvick fills the bill.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally posted by Team Owner
You are correct sir ! Tony makes the money in Nascar that enables him to have the other teams that he has, midget, sprint, Silver Crown and WOO. I think he will have an IRL team sooner rather than later but someone else will drive it for the full season and he will be only an Indy 500 driver and maybe one other race that wouldn't conflict with his schedule. I know Tony well enough to say that there are may owners in Nascar that would hire him immediately and let him run any open wheel races that he wanted too. Richard Childress has a standing offer to Tony to come drive for him for a very large sum of money. Seems that the fine folks at GM kinda miss the charector they had in Earnhardt and don't feel that Harvick fills the bill.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Team Owner....

That's exactly the way I inderstand the situation, on all fronts addressed....

I'm wondering if Robby Gordon isn't seriously thinking doing the same thing by forming his own Indy operation, leasing the back-up to PDM and McGehee, etc...maybe Robby will work a deal with Paul Diatlovitch
to campaign a car for the rest of the IRL season...

Lord knows Robby isn't exactly standing in the bread line when it comes to money in the bank, either....


And speaking of Childress and Harvick:

Last fall, Childress hinted that he was interested in possibly forming an IRL operation....and stated that he felt that both the IRL and NASCAR could learn things from each other that would elevate his whole racing operation....

Observations:

1. Given this scenario, it would not surprise me one bit if Childress is a "silent partner" or somehow involved in Robby's venture.

2. If #1 is the case, there could be a definite possibility of this program being an entry for future IRL races with a hired driver behind the wheel... and

3. If Childress has any tie-in at all, don't be surprised if a future Indy 500 entrant as a driver will be Harvick himself....

Harvick is from Rick Mears' hometown, idolized him and foolowed his career closely, and has visited Indy in the past (with Childress) and has stated that someday he would like to follow in his idol's footsteps and race here in May...

How's that for a tangent in a "Tony Stewart" thread???

[Bob Riebe]

Gents:
Not saying that Stewarts attitude is stellar, but isn't the same person who used to sneak away to short track races with some crew memebers and race under an alias because he simply loves the old short tracks?
From what I read, he is a racer at heart, in this way and partly his "odd" attitudes he much like AJ.
Remember AJ was the last of the truly "big names" who used to on occasion still get into a wingless USAC sprint car, and so did Stewart.
Bob

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
Gents:
Not saying that Stewarts attitude is stellar, but isn't the same person who used to sneak away to short track races with some crew memebers and race under an alias because he simply loves the old short tracks?
From what I read, he is a racer at heart, in this way and partly his "odd" attitudes he much like AJ.
Remember AJ was the last of the truly "big names" who used to on occasion still get into a wingless USAC sprint car, and so did Stewart.
Bob

He is a racer in that sense, out of the same mold as A.J., Gary Bettenhausen, Mel Kenyon (who STILL drives midgets at age 70 or 71!!!) and countless others that would take too long to name....

I've watched Tony, Jeff Gordon, J.J. Yeley, the Kinsers, Ryan Newmannn, Kasey Kahne, and others since I moved back to Indiana in the spring of 1990.....all of them love to drive and have enormous talent....

I just wish that Jeff would have gotten his chance from someone...anyone....in CART in the early 1990s to run open-wheelers at the top level at Indy.....

I'm saddened that someone didn't kick $$$ into the pot to keep Tony in the IRL in the same way that Sam Hornish was retained by Penske, and thus stayed in the Series this year.....

and I am distaught that the next young hot shot talent...Kahne....was picked up by NASCAR, when the highest IRL officials know him, and could have wooed him to the Series....

As for Newmann....he had his eyes set on NASCAR from the "get-go"....I don't think he would have joined the Series...he had his own plan....