bob jennings' WORLD O' RACING  05/15/99

Tony Stewart leads the 1996 "Indianapolis 500"

 Bob Jennings

This photo portrays one of my all time favorite "Indianapolis 500" memories. I was so intimidated by CART's absence, from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in May 1996, that I stayed away from Indianapolis until race day. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the 1996 "Indianapolis 500."

I even missed the start of the race, for the only time since I began going to the "500" in 1956. It was such a weird feeling to be in the North Chute tunnel, while the cars passed overhead, on the first lap of the "500."

I got to my photo location, inside turn four, on lap three, and I saw one of the most beautiful sights anyone could see. The grandstands were packed, as usual, and things looked just as they always do for the "Indianapolis 500." That's the exact moment I became a fan of the Indy Racing League.

Out in front was rookie Tony Stewart, flying around, at 230 mph, in John Menard's Lola - Buick V6 turbo, looking for all the world like the resurrection of Bill Vukovich, with the yellow and orange paint, on his car 20, glowing under the heavy clouds hanging low.

Tony was out of the race, by lap 82, with the usual Menard engine problems. He led 44 of the first 55 laps of the race. But he looked terrific while he was running. It could've been another classic had Stewart remained in the 1996 "500." The thought of he and race winner Buddy Lazier going at one another, at the end of the race, excites me just to think about it.

I'm going to be disappointed if Tony Stewart doesn't win the 1999 "Indianapolis 500," but I'm not especially confident about his chances for winning. I think that Lazier is going to be one of the main guys he's going to have beat this May, as well as defending "500" winner Eddie Cheever, and Scott Goodyear. I have doubts about the quality of Stewart's Larry Curry prepared Home Depot Dallara, but none about Stewart's driving talent. I'll be hoping though and won't it be sweet if Tony pulls off the big win?

Practice for the 1999 "500" begins today, at the Speedway. It's "500" time again. Life is good.