Old Spice

February 5, 2010

Q & A with Tony Stewart

You’ve said that you were a little nervous before the start of last season, not knowing exactly what to expect. What is your level of anticipation heading into this season, and is it any different than last year?

“I can promise you one thing: a year ago at this time, none of us knew what to expect and it was a big question mark. Obviously, getting the first year under our belt, there’s a lot more relaxation from my standpoint as far as my nerves are concerned. But I’m so extremely proud of the group we have here, the relationship that (crew chief) Darian (Grubb) and I have built over the last year, the relationship with (co-driver) Ryan (Newman) and (Newman’s crew chief) Tony Gibson and (competition director) Bobby Hutchens. I mean, this group is a really tight knit group to me and I’m very, very proud of what these guys have done over the last year. And, honestly, I’m expecting a great year. I feel like, with both of us being able to get in the Chase last year, that’s something that I expect both teams to do this year, and I feel like the changes we went through and the work that we did over the winter have prepared both of these teams to have a shot at running for a championship. So, versus last year at this time, saying that we just wanted to make the Chase and hopefully win some races, I feel like this year we have two teams that are legitimate contenders to not only make the Chase, but also have a shot at the championship.”

As a team owner, in addition to being a driver, do you drive with the feeling that you have a lot more at stake than in the past?

“I don’t think so. I don’t think that adds to the stress, or takes away from it, at all. You just want to be successful and you want the whole organization to be successful. It was that way when I was with (Joe) Gibbs (Racing), too. I obviously wanted the (No.) 20 car to run well, but I wanted my teammates to run well, too. I think that’s helped me with the attitude of how I approach being a driver/owner at Stewart-Haas Racing.”

When you look back on your first year as a driver/owner, is there any particular thing that you feel warrants a pat on the back?

“I think you’re always looking at things that you can do better. I think the one thing that I felt like I could pat myself on the back for is having assembled such a fine group of people. I don’t feel like I could’ve found anybody better than Bobby (Hutchens) as our competition director. I feel like having Tony Gibson and Darian Grubb are the two best fits for the crew chief positions. And, obviously, Ryan (Newman), our relationship over the year, I’ve had more fun with Ryan than I’ve had in a long time, and I’ve had a lot of great teammates that I’ve had a lot of fun with. Ryan and I are just a great fit and I think that’s the one thing that as the year kept going on and the relationships between this group kept getting stronger and building, that I was really proud of and felt fortunate I was able to get this particular group of people together and knowing how well we work together. It’s really hard in this business to get a group of guys who really click with each other, and I feel like that’s something we have is a core group of people who really have the same vision, have the same passion and have the relationship that we have, and that’s what I really felt proud about at the end of the season.”

Looking down the road for you and your teams this season, what can you do differently should one or both cars make the Chase?

“We will make sure we focus on doing everything we can so that when the Chase comes, we are prepared and ready for a strong, 10 week stretch and not get ourselves in a situation like we did last year. We don’t know why we fell off in the Chase. I think a lot of it was that we were worried about just making the Chase. I think it’s a situation, now, where we are going to be a little more focused on trying to make sure that when the Chase gets here, that’s when we are at our best, and that is at the start of that last, 10 week stretch.”

Danica Patrick has gotten a lot of attention as she is about to begin her stock car racing career while also continuing her Indy car career. Having made the transition yourself from Indy cars to stock cars, what challenges do you foresee for her?

“It’s going to be difficult for her. It’s a lot easier when you can get in the car and then the next week get in the same type of car. Bouncing around is difficult, for sure. But I think, versus looking at it strictly from this year’s standpoint, she’s trying to get a head start for the future and get her feet wet and start building that base of information that she needs for the future. It’s not the most advantageous thing if you want to go out and get results right away, but it is advantageous if that’s what your goal down the road is – to be able to start building that database in your mind about how to drive these cars and to learn that new feel. So, it does make it harder going back and forth between the cars and especially, taking a break for the Indy 500 during May. After that, it will take some time to get re-acclimated, but at least she will have that feel and she will be able to pick back up on it. It may not happen right away each time she gets back in it, but at least it will be somewhat familiar each time. I think everybody has to be fair to her and realize she’s going through a learning curve. You look at how many drivers before her have tried to come from Indy cars and have struggled. I think she will learn it. It’s just a matter of time. I don’t think she will focus on what everybody says. I think she’ll go off of what she feels and, if the media and everybody gives her a fair shake, I think she will do just fine.”

You got a chance to do something different this past off-season when you traveled to Australia to race with your World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver, Donny Schatz? How did that go?

“I had a lot of fun with it. I got to run four races in a winged Sprint Car down there and that was something. Getting to race with Donny down there was a lot of fun. It was a little different off season than normal, where you sit at home, and normally in Indiana that time of year, there’s not much you can do. So you spend a lot of time laying around and relaxing. Even though we raced in Australia, we relaxed and had a lot of time to have fun. To me, it was the perfect vacation, being able to run four races but still have time to relax at the same time. Two and a half weeks I was down there. It’s the most time I’ve got to spend with Donny. I got to learn him a lot better. Obviously, being able to race with him down there was something that was a great learning experience. It really helped me understand those cars a lot more and makes me want to run more of those races this year.”