Tony Stewart finished sixth in points, with two victories, in 2004. Credit: Autostock

Preview: Tony Stewart

More wins, better consistency Stewart's goals

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- By Tony Stewart standards, it was a quiet off-season.

He didn't get married like Jimmie Johnson. He didn't make the media rounds as champion like Kurt Busch. He didn't announce his retirement Like Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin.

He bought his very own dirt track (Eldora Speedway) last year, but that is about the only thing different for 2005.

	Credit: Autostock
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Tony Stewart enters 2005 as a 33-year-old, which is pretty much middle-aged in this young-gun driven world. He's been with Greg Zipadelli for every one of his seven seasons at NASCAR's top level, and Stewart says he hopes Zipadelli will be his crew chief for a long time.

"I have no problem retiring with him as my crew chief," Stewart said. "I will say that until the day I die."

But in 2005, his other surroundings at Joe Gibbs Racing have changed dramatically.

The team will have three cars for the first time in its 13-year history. Their once-roomy facility is now crowded due to the addition of a third car for Jason Leffler, but the team should rebound from a lackluster 2004.

"I'm satisfied with what we're doing with the addition of the third team," said Stewart. "Hopefully we'll get the results we're looking for. Then again, we're going to have to have some luck on our side."

Stewart should also benefit from the new rules changes, especially the spoiler reduction, which will loosen up the cars. Stewart didn't test at Daytona -- he's never been fond of restrictor-plate racing anyway.

Instead, he spent time testing at Texas to get a handle on the new Goodyear tire, and at Kentucky to get started on the new spoiler.

Stewart should also be one of the drivers who will get a lot of benefit out of cars being impounded after qualifying.

"That was a really good idea," Stewart said.

Credit: Autostock

Zipadelli has been sick during much of the off-season but has still been at work every day overseeing the new changes, so Stewart's team is certainly among the most prepared for the season.

"We have got to get him healthy again," Stewart said.

Stewart's consistency wasn't bad in 2004, but Stewart could never reel of more than three top-10s in a row. The result was a fine sixth-place season, but his two wins were a career low.

"I'm looking forward to being a little more consistent," said Stewart.

A lot of the problems stemmed from a lack of momentum entered the Chase for the Nextel Cup. In the very first event, Stewart crashed at Loudon after Robby Gordon got into Greg Biffle.

Stewart stays he hopes to just hang around with the leaders this year and then get hot once the Chase rolls around.

"My thought on the points system is that it's the same for everybody, so I don't have a problem with it," Stewart said. "We know we have to be consistent and stay in the top-five."

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