Track Smack: Tony, Juan and Bienvenue au Montreal

1. There's never a dull moment with Tony Stewart around. Should he have been penalized by NASCAR for his post-race comments in Indy?

Dave Rodman: I don't care if it was NASCAR's latest cable debut, which has allowed other "slips" to pass. The cable issue never occurred to me when I heard him say it -- but I figured he's on probation, so he needed to get dinged.

Joe Menzer: I chuckled when he made the comment -- but man, some of the e-mails I've received from fans make it sound like the guy robbed a bank at gunpoint. I just think in the overall scheme of things, it's not that big a deal.

David Caraviello: NASCAR had no idea what they created by penalizing Dale Earnhardt Jr. a few years ago, after he said the "S-word" at Talladega. Ninety-nine percent of the e-mails I've received since Indy had nothing to do with the race -- they were all "will Tony get penalized like Dale was?"

Dave Rodman: It's nice that, as our columnist of record, you get all that noise. I have yet to see the first one. Where he's currently at in the Chase standings, it isn't going to hurt him. In pure Tony fashion, he was happier to make a point, if you will, with the statement.

David Caraviello: He shouldn't say it. He didn't need to say it. He probably deserved to get fined for it. But THIS is overshadowing everything else that happened at Indy?

Dave Rodman: That's what we can't let happen. That was a great Brickyard 400. As our e-mailing pal Kevin Walker pointed out -- cautions made it a great race, to some degree -- but it was great.

Joe Menzer: Of course he deserved to be fined. There is a precedent for this. But again, in the bigger picture, it's not that big of a deal. I hate to admit this, but I've let worse swear words slip in front of my own kids. I'm not proud of that, but, hey, it happens when you've been around locker rooms and garages for 25 years!

Dave Rodman: Yikes. Great point. I really don't want to be holier-than-thou but someone has to stand up for clean, God and the American way.

David Caraviello: It's like they've created this subculture of fans who act like the neighborhood watchdog, calling the HOA on you if your garbage can stays out too long. Give me a break.

Joe Menzer: I had one e-mailer who accused me of being anti-military and un-American because I said that Tony swearing wasn't that big of a deal. Not sure I got that one.

Dave Rodman: And Joe, you know left field is exponentially increased when it comes to our e-mailers -- and in the case of cussing being no big deal being anti-military??? I'd say that's three fields to the left of left field.

David Caraviello: I'm just tired of all these nannies sitting out there acting like the morality patrol for everyone else. These must be the same people who call PGA Tour headquarters when they think a golfer has committed a penalty he hasn't called on himself.

Joe Menzer: Rodman just got back from vacation. I wonder if he needed to be monitored like that on his golf rounds.

Dave Rodman: Well, Joe -- you know I always say "I ain't playing for pay ..." but having said that, I am pretty darned close to the rules, at least as well as I know 'em.

David Caraviello: Not trying to defend Stewart, who was likely trying to shoot back at ESPN for hammering him for his Schlitz comments post-Chicago -- but enough, already.

Joe Menzer: Come on. The Chicago Schlitz comments were nothing short of hilarious. That was Good Tony at his humorous best!

David Caraviello: Evidently, Skip Bayless didn't think so on ESPN.com.

Dave Rodman: Now, I will unleash some of the floodgates my way, to take it off my buddy Tony -- hah -- but I thought harpooning him for the Schlitz comments was kinda low rent, myself. That's life, man. (Continued)