Dreams really do come true. Tony Stewart grew up less than an hour from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As a boy, he watched his hero A.J. Foyt win multiple Indy 500's, and he dreamed that one day he, too, could capture a checkered flag at the world most famous raceway. Today, Tony Stewart got a chance to kiss the famed bricks at Indy. Tony Stewart won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(Autostock)
While Stewart was racing to victory lane, Jimmie Johnson, points leader heading into the weekend, was heading to a local hospital. Johnson was running in 11th when he cut down a right front tire heading into turn 4 on lap 145. Johnson hit the wall at nearly full speed. There was a dramatic scene when the Lowes Chevrolet came to a halt in his pit box. Crew chief Chad Knaus reached in the driver's side window and pulled Johnson from his burning car. "I don't really remember coming from Turn 4 to the pits," Johnson said. "I just remember kind of waking up on pit road the guys pulling me out of the car. So it's all good." Johnson was taken to a local hospital, but it appears that he did not suffer any serious injuries.
Tony Stewart's victory combined with Jimmie Johnson's wreck led to a changing of the guard at the top of the Nextel Cup standings. Stewart now holds a 75 point advantage over Johnson. But, Johnson wasn't the only driver whose day ended in the junkyard. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished dead last. This wreck might have been the final death knell in Junior's pursuit of the Chase for the Championship.
(AP Photo)
Next week, the NASCAR cicuit hits the road at Watkin's Glen.
