It’s official: Stewart to run Indy/Charlotte double

By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
May 7, 2001
2:37 PM EDT (1837 GMT)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Ending weeks of speculation, Tony Stewart announced Monday that he will indeed attempt to run both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27th for the second time in three years.

Despite saying, "I'll never do that again," after completing the marathon feat in 1999, Stewart will indeed be pulling double duty.

The driver of the No. 20 Pontiac in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series has been given clearance by Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor The Home Depot to team with CART driver Jimmy Vasser and pilot a G-Force/Aurora Indy Racing League entry for the two-car Target Chip Ganassi Racing organization in the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Ganassi, a four-time CART Series championship team owner and defending winner of the Indianapolis 500, recruited Stewart for an attempt at a second Indianapolis 500 crown after intense negotiations with Joe Gibbs Racing and representatives from The Home Depot.

Stewart last ran the Indy 500 in 1999.

"In our original contract negotiations, Tony and I discussed his desire to win the Indianapolis 500," said Gibbs. "We agreed that we would help him reach his goal. We think that this is a good opportunity for him and Home Depot to achieve this dream.”

What many folks are concerned with is how Stewart will deal with the time constraints. The Indy 500 starts at 12 p.m., ET while the Coca-Cola 600 starts at 5:45 p.m., ET. When Stewart attempted the double back in 1999, the 600 didn’t start until 6:15 p.m., ET. Gibbs says they’re ready.

“In case of any conflicts, Tony's number one responsibility will be the No. 20 Home Depot car and the Coca-Cola 600,” Gibbs said. “We have made all arrangements to assure that Tony will start the Coca-Cola 600."

"Our entire organization of over 250,000 associates enthusiastically supports Tony Stewart and his pursuit of his dream," said Dick Sullivan, senior vice president of marketing for The Home Depot.

"We are happy to be a part of one of the most exciting days in motorsports history, and thrilled that through this effort we will be able to make a difference for some children and their families who must cope with a difficult set of circumstances on a daily basis."

Stewart won the Pontiac Excitement 400 last weekend in Richmond.

Stewart, the 1997 IRL champion, has four Indianapolis 500 starts to his credit, the most recent of which came in 1999. He drove a Home Depot-sponsored Dallara/Aurora IRL entry for Tri-Star Motorsports from his 24th starting spot to ninth, before jumping on a plane destined for Concord, N.C.

With little time to spare upon his arrival at Concord Regional Airport, Stewart boarded a helicopter on loan to him from fellow Winston Cup driver Rusty Wallace and promptly flew to Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, touching down on the infield grass just 10 minutes prior to the call of, "Gentleman, start your engines."

Stewart finished the longest race on the Winston Cup schedule in fourth place after having to start at the back of the field for missing the mandatory driver's meeting.

When the race finished, so was Stewart. He had completed 1,090 racing miles in one day, becoming the only driver to finish the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.

He needed medical attention for dehydration and exhaustion. Upon gathering his senses a few moments later, Stewart said, "I'll never do that again."

Never say never.