Darby addresses Stewart, Talladega finish

FONTANA, Calif. -- Nextel Cup director John Darby wouldn't go into specifics regarding his discussion with Tony Stewart on Friday morning, but did say he was confident it was a productive session.

	John Darby said his meeting with Tony Stewart was productive. Credit: Autostock

"It went real good," Darby said. "As normal, when we're up in the front of the trailer with the door shut, that's where it stays. But we had a real good conversation. We'll be alright."

The meeting was spurred by what some folks deemed over-aggressive driving by Stewart last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, including a run-in with Kurt Busch that resulted in the "Big One," and a post-race collision with veteran Terry Labonte.

According to Stewart spokesman Mike Arning, Stewart didn't want to make another lap around the racetrack with all the garbage raining down from the stands, so he made a U-turn down near the apron to head back toward pit road.

When he turned, he turned right into the nose of Labonte's Chevrolet, which was just to the inside left rear corner of Stewart's machine.

Arning did say that Stewart, following his Busch Series qualifying run in the No. ESGR 29 Chevrolet on Friday, walked to the No. 5 hauler and apologized to some of the crewmen, then entered the hauler, presumably to speak with Labonte.

Darby doesn't see it as any issue any longer.

Last week at Talladega Gordon celebrates his first win of the 2004 season Play video Johnson and Stewart discuss their performances Play video Gordon edges Junior as the race ends under caution Play video The Big One collects 11 cars on Lap 83 Play video Drivers react and place blame after The Big One Play video Kenseth spins in the tri-oval but avoids disaster Play video Johnson cuts a tire and Kenseth's engine blows Play video  •  Results  •  Standings

"Actually, we got off on a couple spin-off tracks on some other subjects, but in conducting the business we did, it was very encouraging," Darby continued. "Everything went fine."

As far as the fans are concerned, nothing seems fine with last Sunday's yellow-flag finish in the Aaron's 499. After the decision was made to end the race under caution, fans littered the racing surface with debris, including glass bottles, aluminum cans and coolers.

"We came to a real clear, firm decision, real fast that we were not going to show the field of cars (at Talladega) a green and white flag at the same time," Darby said.

"At the point that the caution came out, essentially, even squeezing everything as tight as we could -- quickie yellow with one to go and all the rest of that stuff happening at the same time -- ultimately the teams would have come to a green and white flag.

"It's also a fact that it takes over a full lap for the cars to even come back to speed, so at that point are you really racing, or just having two drag races on who can get back through the gear boxes the quickest and back to the start/finish line?

"Above all of that, when you look at the safety of the drivers involved, it just wasn't worth that jeopardy."

Ryan Newman said Friday that personally he feels no race should finish under caution.

"I prefer finishing the race under green, whether it's a one-lap dash, two-lap dash, whatever, I think the race should finish under green no matter what," Newman said. "That's my personal opinion. We came here to race. The fans came here to see us race. It can finish under caution and you still see a race, but it isn't what we're all here to see.

	Tony Stewart was involved in three incidents last weekend at Talladega. Credit: Autostock

"We're all here to see a race to the checkers. NASCAR made the comment that there was a recipe for disaster, (that) they didn't want to do a green/white/checker or one-lap shootout. I'm thinking, 'Well, why are we there to race then?'"

Darby said he and the other officials in the control tower were just as frustrated by the outcome as the fans were.

"No one in the world was more disappointed last Sunday than the ones that were in the control tower, me included, of having to finish a race under caution," Darby said. "The other fact of that matter is that all of those policies and procedures were set, and we can't change that during a race."

Despite the dissatisfying finish, Darby was heartened by the competition leading up that final caution.

"The fortunate part of it is that we had three and a half hours of an absolutely exciting race, and it's a shame it couldn't play out all the way to the end," he said. "The good thing, if you look at what it involves though, only seven races out of the past 45 that we've been in that situation.

	Ryan Newman says all races should finish under green. Credit: Autostock

"That wasn't the first time I've seen that. I'm sure it won't be the last. NASCAR fans are passionate, and they've got their favorites and not so favorites, and they're going to display that passion.

"Obviously we don't condone debris flying through the air. But at that point, we're convinced the caution that late in the race is what triggered that reaction."

Newman said there are ways to remedy the situation, but for now we just have to live with it.

"I think there's a few things that can make it simpler, as far as computerized timing and scoring with transponders on the cars to tell where we're at," Newman said. "I know NASCAR's working on that, because they discuss that.

"But in the time being the old-fashioned way is how we'll have to get it done. I think in the instance of Talladega it was just a mess because of the formula for racing at that track."