Stewart Q&A: Million-dollar races wreck half the field

by FOX Sports Radio

Updated: May 23, 2005, 3:41 PM EST

2005 Nextel All-Star Challenge Photo Gallery... Martin wins; others spin Also... | | | Poll: Who's the sexiest driver? All-Star Riding with Dale Jr. Analysis... DW: On-track flashback BYRNES: All-star wreck report BYRNES: Vickers' tight night

Van Earl Wright: Why do you want to do that?

Tony Stewart: That is a stupid idea. (laughter)

Andrew Siciliano: You think that was a stupid idea? Come on, how fun was it to race for a million bucks on Saturday night?

Tony Stewart: It's always fun to race for a million dollars.

Andrew Siciliano: But you don't want to do it every week?

Tony Stewart: Heck no. Are you kidding me?

Andrew Siciliano: Why not?

Tony Stewart: Because if you look at my stats of finishing or not finishing that All Star race I crashed on that race more then I finished.

Andrew Siciliano: But it won't be on that same track. It won't be on that same track every week.

Tony Stewart: But what would happen, you'd have the same results just at a different track every week. You would have a half the field crashed out racing for a million bucks.

Andrew Siciliano: Because you'd be reckless?

Tony Stewart: Well, with no points there's nothing to be conservative about. You just kind of go out there and push the envelope right to the edge and if you make a mistake, so what, I mean it's game over. If pushing the envelope like that gets you a million dollars, it get you a million dollars.

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Later, Krystal asked Tony about the Mr. Clean carwash he will be participating in on Wednesday...
Krystal Fernandez: I was going to ask you if you were going to pull a Paris Hilton (referring to her sexy Carl's Jr. commercial) when you're washing those cars? Did you see that commercial yet?

Tony Stewart: I have, and have you seen my figure versus hers?

Van Earl Wright: Very good point Tony Stewart.

Tony Stewart: I'm like a beached whale compared to Paris Hilton. I'm not going even try and top her. I'm going to let her do her thing.

Then Van Earl asked Tony about the Indy 500 and, more specifically, Danica Patrick...
"I'll be honest I'm really impressed with her so far. She runs a really good line around the racetrack. Listen to her on the P.A. and interviews she's definitely focused for sure. I'm more worried about her burning herself out than anything at this point. I think she's so focused at this point that I don't think she's letting herself enjoy the experience. She has her nose to the ground, she's working hard to win it but... .as far as her chances, I think she has just as good of a chance as anybody. She led a lot of laps at Motegi. She's been running real good lap times out there for the month of May. I think this is the longest race that she ever ran so I think stamina is something we'll probably all have to wait and see. You know, she's a professional. She's the real deal, I'm telling you. It's not a gimmick having her as a female driver. She doesn't look at herself as a female driver, and I can promise the guys that she's racing with, other than the fact that she's a good-looking girl, they better put that fact off to the side because she's doing an awesome job out there. If they're not careful she's gonna whip their butts on Sunday."

Tomorrow we will discuss Game 1 of the Heat and Pistons series. Did Shaq play? Was he a factor? Wouldn't you like to know! We'll also break down the weekend of inter-league play with FOX MLB insider Kevin Kennedy. And we'll see how the NFL Network's Adam Schefter enjoyed seeing himself on the big screen in The Longest Yard!