Crew members survey the damage to Tony Stewart's car after a crash in practice. Credit: Autostock

Stewart sidelined Friday after crash in practice

J.J. Yeley qualifies No. 20; Stewart to return Saturday

JOLIET, Ill. -- Tony Stewart's weekend got off to an inauspicious start Friday when his No. 20 Chevrolet found the wall in the first practice session for Sunday's USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

	Tony Stewart
	Practice wreckA hard crash sends Tony Stewart to the hospital Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

The right front and right side of the car were heavily damaged when Stewart cut a right front tire in Turn 4 and smacked the wall after sliding up the track midway through the session. The car then rolled to a stop in the infield grass and Stewart was assisted by track workers.

Stewart was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet for precautionary X-rays after complaining of pain in his upper torso, team spokesman Mike Arning told The Associated Press.

With Stewart sidelined but expected to drive in Sunday's race, teammate J.J Yeley stepped in during Bud Pole Qualifying and ran 186.168 mph to put the No. 20 Chevrolet 13th on the grid. However, any driver change will mean Stewart will start last when the green flag flies.

"We're going to give him as much rest as we can," said Greg Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief. "If he's still sore in the morning, maybe J.J. will run in the first practice and Tony can go out and run (the second).

"We'll just leave that up to Tony and how hard he wants to run and what he wants to do. Tony was cleared (for) Sunday and he'll be OK."

Stewart also crashed last year during a practice at Chicagoland.

Before the wreck Friday, Stewart -- who has won the last two Nextel Cup races and visited Victory Lane at Chicagoland last season -- said this weekend could be critical in his championship plans.

J.J. Yeley qualified the No. 20 Chevrolet 13th on Friday. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

"This is a very pivotal week for us, in my opinion," Stewart said. "If we can have a really good weekend this weekend, that backs up what we did at Michigan. Hopefully, what we learned there and what worked for us at Michigan will still work for us here."

The primary was the same car that Stewart drove to his second-place finish at Michigan last month after leading a majority of the laps run.

"The weekend we had at Michigan was huge, running second there and that was something we finally broke into that category and interrupted the Hendrick-Roush dominance there that day," he said.

"If we can have a good weekend this weekend, I think it gives us a lot to look forward to when that 10-week stretch starts at the end of the season."