Far from it. But Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon gave the fans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway the highlight of the Brickyard 400 minutes after the checkered flag dropped on the Kyle Busch victory Sunday afternoon.
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Tony Stewart finished 11th and Jeff Gordon 13th in the Brickyard 400 but that was more than good enough to prompt the two to celebrate together as they took an extra tour of the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway side by side.
Jeff Gordon wasn’t able to close out his illustrious Sprint Cup Series career last season with a championship like Elway, Lewis and Manning did, but he came about as close as you can, grabbing an emotional victory at Martinsville in November and making it to the finale in Homestead as one of four drivers eligible for the title.
Gordon was always Stewart’s measuring stick, not just as another product of Midwestern short tracks but also for ceremonies honoring him as a NASCAR champion.
Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart said that the challenge is what Bell indicated, they can’t make the track too heavy because that would kick up too much dirt into the windshields. Gordon was ninth fastest in Friday’s first practice session before qualifying 21st on Saturday. In 2012, NASCAR inexplicably moved the race from IRP over to the big track, where it has consistently produced little to nothing of substance in the five races since.
“This is not a year about saying goodbye”, Gordon told Stewart. Of course he would fill in for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was going to be out of the vehicle after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. Two legends. Two measuring sticks. “I think it’s only fitting that all of us in this room, along with the millions of fans around the world, recognize what you’ve brought to this sport and congratulate you on all you’ve done, and say, ‘Thank you'”. “That is a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life”. “It was better than previous year”, said Gordon, referring to a crash-marred performance in which he finished 42nd.
“I have so much respect and admiration for who he is as a person and as a race vehicle driver”, Gordon said.
Busch could show just how good he is by crashing the Indianapolis 500, although he would risk falling flat on his face as the transition is not an easy one to make. Gordon paid tribute to Stewart during the pre-race driver’s meeting.
“I know that you don’t want to be recognized”, he said. I didn’t want to see those restarts.
“You were born and raised in Indiana”.
“I know as we got to know one another as friends and competitors over the years what this place means to you”, Gordon said. While it’s hard to say where he might wind up this year, he’s already nearly matched his win total from last season (five) – a season where, by the way, he didn’t even run the full season because of an injury at the beginning of the year.
“I think our chances are pretty good”, Busch said, referring to the Brickyard 400. I am just proud that I was able to be here to race with him at his final race at Indy.
IN is where he developed his affinity for dirt tracks and A.J. Foyt and where his talent broke through the fierce, sometimes temperamental moments. “This was the most relaxing Brickyard I have ever had and we had a lot of fun this weekend from start to finish”.
“I thought a year ago the momentum did carry over”, he said. But he got his money’s worth at this track and then some. I learned a lot about Tony Stewart.
The Brickyard was kinder to him.
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For Stewart, he’ll continue to position himself for the postseason Chase, in which he’s all-but assured a spot after winning at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June. He deserved it, he said.
