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

Tony Stewart is towed to the pits after retiring from the 1998 "Indianapolis 500"

Bob Jennings

The photo, on this page, portrays my biggest disappointment of the 1998 racing season. I couldn't believe it!. Tony Stewart took the lead, on lap 24, of the "Indianapolis 500," with a brave pass on Greg Ray, going into turn one, but as he passed the line to be scored as leader, the Aurora engine, in the Menard car 1 Dallara, quit. Tony coasted up next to the outside wall, in turn one, got out of the car and waved to the crowd. Officials made Tony get back in, to be towed to the pits, and I caught this photo as he passed by my position inside the entrance to turn four.

It was a sad end to a frustrating month of May for Stewart and the Menard team. First they discovered that a bad batch of Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engines had been built, for Indianapolis, in the Menard shop. Then they were blown off, in qualifications, by the Foyt team and drivers Billy Boat and Kenny Brack. Then this. . . . .

Honestly though, even if he'd kept running, last May 24, I have my doubts that Tony could've beaten Eddie Cheever. Eddie was that strong! It would've been a great show to watch Stewart and Cheever fight for the "Indianapolis 500" though. It could've been a classic!

I wanted Tony to remain in the Indy Racing League to lead the series through its formative years. If any personality was "IRL," with the exception of Tony George, it was Tony Stewart. As the1999 racing season moves along, however, it's obvious Indy car racing, in 1999, isn't big enough for Tony Stewart. It seems like Tony moves the Home Depot car 20 one position closer to victory with each passing Winston Cup weekend. Three years ago, during the 1996 "Indianapolis 500," I thought Stewart had the look of the next Rick Mears. It didn't work out that way, but the way he's making progress, maybe Tony Stewart really is the next Jeff Gordon, just like some many people have said the past couple years.

I think it was during last Sunday's ABC telecast of the Winston Cup race, at California Speedway, that Benny Parsons called Stewart the "real deal." Yes, Tony Stewart is going to be the "real deal" in NASCAR.

In my mind, however, Tony Stewart's primary mission is to win the "Indianapolis 500." He will make his fourth attempt, in the "500," in a few weeks, with some big obstacles in his path. His NASCAR activity takes priority throughout this month. That priority is probably going to force Stewart to qualify, for the "500," on Bump day, which means he'll be starting from back in the field. It also means limited practice time in the Tri Star Home Depot car 22 Dallara - Aurora, which may present Tony's biggest obstacle to winning at Indianapolis. Larry Curry is one of Stewart's partners, in Tri Star, and I don't have much confidence in Curry's ability to prepare a car capable of running 500 miles. When Tony was running for Team Menard, he had great looking cars; brilliant yellow  and orange rockets. But mostly the Menard cars were junk, which lost three or four times as many races, for Stewart, as they won.  

However, in the era of the Indy Racing League, a quick start up operation, like Tri Star, can have a good day and win the "Indianapolis 500." So,  this May 30, Tony may indeed have to drink his milk, kiss the queen and wave off the media, as he runs to a waiting helicopter, to begin his trip to Charlotte , still wearing the "500" winner's floral wreath. Wouldn't Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler love the brand new "Indianapolis 500" winner to fly into Lowes Motor Speedway for the start of their Winston Cup 600 miler?    

Wouldn't I love to see Tony Stewart win the 1999 "Indianapolis 500," even if it means, as Stewart has been quoted, that he'd forego open wheel racing to focus on NASCAR? Win the "500" when (and if) the opportunity presents itself.

It's only been two weeks ago that John Menard's law suit and injunction was going to keep Tony out of the 1999 "500." So, anything that happens during May is a plus. A Tony Stewart "500" win would go a long way to compensate for some of the turmoil and disappointment of recent racing seasons, however.