|
|
|
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida.
Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr., then held off Kurt Busch and Earnhardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500 on Sunday. |
|
 |
|
Tickets - Races - Concerts |
|
|
|
|
| Summer 2005 Concerts: |
|
Order Tickets Online or
Call
1-888-638-1800 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
Tony Stewart Driver Profile
|
 Born: May 20,1971,in Rushville, Ind. Lives in: Columbus, Ind., and Davidson, N.C. Height, weight: 5-9,170 Car: No. 20 Chevrolet Car owner: Joe Gibbs Crew chief: Greg Zipadelli Engine builder: Mark Cronquist First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race: February 14,1999, at Daytona; started
2nd, finished 28th
Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 19 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup wins: 2 First NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win: September 11,
1999, at Richmond; started 2nd Career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 7 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup poles: 0 Last NASCAR NEXTEL Cup pole: July 11, 2003,
at Chicagoland; finished 2nd Best points finish: 1st (2002) |
|
WHERE HE'S FAST: Stewart had a great run at restrictor-plate tracks last season because of the solid engine packages provided by Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart finished in the top 10 in three of the four races at Daytona and Talladega. He also was consistent at the 1.5-mile tracks. Stewart won at Chicagoland and finished in the top 10 in all but one of the races on 1.5-mile tracks. At Dover, Stewart's average finish was fourth. He also races methodically on road courses. Stewart smoked the competition at Watkins Glen, finishing 1.5 seconds ahead of road ace Ron Fellows.
WHERE HE'S SLOW: Stewart had just one top five on short tracks-a fourth-place finish at Richmond. His overall average finish on the tracks of less than a mile was 14.16. His runs on the two-mile flat tracks also were mediocre. In the four races at California and Michigan, Stewart scored just one top 10. He struggled in both Pocono races, with a 27th-place finish in June and a wreck in August that left him 35th.
STRENGTHS: When Stewart has a car that handles well, he is unstoppable. He's aggressive yet smooth on restarts, and if he takes the lead, he's gone. In the 17 races in which Stewart led laps, he led the most laps in five events. Stewart experienced just two DNFs last season, and none were because of mechanical failures.
WEAKNESSES: Stewart's poor qualifying efforts hurt him during the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Stewart had trouble getting to the front during the Chase and for most of the season. When it comes to playing nice with others, Brian Vickers will attest that Stewart doesn't. Sometimes Stewart lets things that happen on the track bother him the rest of the race and doesn't finish as well because of it.
IN THE PITS: The No. 20 crew wrapped up the inaugural McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Crew Challenge for 2004. But there was talk that changes would be made during the offseason. Despite crew chief Greg Zipadelli's talent for keeping his driver calm and focused, one wonders how much longer Zipadelli can absorb the stress.
BOTTOM LINE: Although Stewart never fell below eighth in points last season, he never got on a roll or did anything to make himself a serious contender for the championship. Stewart easily made the Chase for theNASCARNEXTELCup, but after getting caught up in an accident in the first race of the Chase and falling to ninth in the standings, neither he nor the team regained momentum. Stewart is an incredible racer with endless talent, but he sometimes appears to lack the drive and determination of his fellow competitors |
|
|
|
|
 |
Crew chief Greg Zipadelli deserves a lot of credit for keeping Tony Stewart focused. The two were clicking especially well at midseason last year, when Stewart put together five top fives, including two victories, in a stretch of six races. But they never got the cars right during the Chase for the NASCAR ; NEXTEL Cup-until the final race at i Homestead. By then, it was too late.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
