Calling Tony Stewart's Bluff

Disclaimer: This is an opinionated piece from an outsider's perspective. A lot easier for me to say this from the outside looking in.

So, Tony Stewart has turned down Roger Penske's Indianapolis 500 offer. There isn't enough time to do it right is the biggest gripe. I count a little less than six months until the race and there are two weeks of practice during the month of May. Testing is going to be suspended for a couple weeks during the Holidays and the teams are limited to how much they can test but let's not act like there is not enough time to do it. There is plenty of time.

IndyCar teams were just testing at Fontana a few days ago. Stewart could have run a shake down there. Not to mention IndyCar teams have gone to Phoenix recently to test during the winter months. Penske could easily have an IndyCar test the day after the March NASCAR race at Phoenix for Stewart. And there have been April tests at the Speedway in the past. I am sure IndyCar could have an early test at the track.

Sure, Stewart has not been in an IndyCar since 2001 and he feels he has been gone too long to be competitive. Last year, Michel Jourdain Jr. came back after eight years out of open-wheel racing and returned to Indianapolis after SIXTEEN YEARS! Jourdain held his own all month, qualified 22nd and finished 19th.

Townsend Bell disproves Stewart's assumption you cannot just show up in May and be competitive every year. He shows up each May and is always a sleeper. He has three top-tens in his last five Indianapolis 500 appearances. He has qualified in the top-ten in two of his last five Indianapolis 500 appearances.

Let's not forget Bertrand Baguette was in position to win Indianapolis as a one-off in 2011, Tomas Scheckter was also competitive as a one-off in 2011.

Bruno Junqueira has shown up in the past and been one of the quickest out of the box at Indianapolis. His only problem is his ride has been too frequently snatched out from underneath him for someone who did not qualify. 

And then Brad Keselowski comes out and says he is interested, BUT (AND THERE IS ALWAYS A BUT) Ford is in the way. Really? Ford? You're going to let them get in your way Keselowski? Don't give me this "If Ford had an IndyCar presence," how about you give Ford an ultimatum. Tell them you are doing Indianapolis and if they don't like the fact that he is driving a Chevrolet at Indianapolis then tell them they should be an engine manufacture in IndyCar.

Honest to God what is Ford going to do if Keselowski runs a Chevrolet at Indianapolis? Leave Penske's NASCAR team? Sure, you do that Ford. It's not like Penske wouldn't be able to get another NASCAR engine supplier, he's only one of the greatest team owners in the history of auto racing. The manufactures would be lining up to supply The Captain.

I wish RACERS would come back. I wish AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti would return. Racing an IndyCar on a Sunday, a sports car the following week and a stock car the week after that. I wish we had RACERS who would go out and RACE. Not letting sponsors get in the way. Does anyone really think Miller Lite would be upset if Keselowski went out and, hypothetically won the Indianapolis 500? That gets there name out even more. More exposure is what the sponsors want.

Once again, this is much easier for me, an outsider, a simple fan to say this than a driver. And if I were in their shoes would I still be saying these things? I hope I would. I hope I'd be racing in all series, running the Double, running sport cars, sprint cars on dirt, you name it but for me it is only fantasy and not reality so I cannot really say.

I guess I am at this point: Don't talk about running Indianapolis unless you're actually going to run Indianapolis. Stop teasing us! No more "ifs" and "buts." Either do it or shut up once and for all.