Stewart wins at the Glen

Tony Stewart knew he was in trouble shortly after the start of the race, but overcame an upset stomach to win Sunday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

“It started about the 15th or 17th lap,” he said. “It got better toward the end, but I still don’t feel well.”

Stewart went back to his hauler as soon as he exited the car after winning the Sirius at the Glen. He was driven back to his motor coach in a golf cart to change his uniform and attempt to recover.

That delayed his celebration in victory lane, marking the third straight week that has happened in NASCAR. Jimmie Johnson was fined $10,000 for violating protocol two weeks ago at Pocono by obscuring the product of a rival sponsor with a placard of his own.

Last week, Jeff Gordon stayed on the track at Indianapolis until the TV coverage ended. He said he was overcome by the emotion of his victory in the Brickyard 400, apologized and was not punished.

Asked if he really went back to his motorhome because he was playing the same game, Stewart, a practical joker, smiled broadly.

“No, I just wanted to go back and brush my hair and look good for you guys,” he said.

The team had road-course ace Boris Said standing by, but released him after the final pit stop. Stewart realized with about 12 laps to go that he was going to finish, although he said that distance seemed like an eternity.

His pain eased somewhat after he was given something to drink, and Stewart said he wanted to stay providing a lack of concentration didn’t drastically reduce his lap times.

He also said word during the race that he also had leg cramps was not accurate and that he felt it was important to stay in the car with victory in the offing for his team.

“These guys have never given up on me, no matter what has happened, and I’ll never give up on them,” he explained. “I wasn’t going to take a win away from them.

“It’s hard to say how close you are. Either you’re in or you’re out. But there’s no substitute for being in the lead, that’s for sure.”

It was the second win for Stewart in the race, one of two road-course events each year on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit. He has three victories in that discipline.

Fernandez wins in Kentucky

Adrian Fernandez posted the first win of his Indy Racing League IndyCar Series career, holding off Buddy Rice at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Fernandez’s victory in the Belterra Casino Indy 300 comes in his first year on the IRL circuit after winning eight times in Champ Car competition. The 39-year-old driver from Mexico City, who owns his own racing team, had a previous best finish of fifth in the IndyCar Series, at Texas Motor Speedway on June 12.

Fernandez beat Rice, a three-time series winner this year, by 0.0581 of a second. Dan Wheldon, Kosuke Matsuura and series points leader Tony Kanaan rounded out the top five.

“We were very aggressive, because I didn’t want to settle for second or third,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez, who led for 51 laps, averaged 180.588 mph in his Honda. His win secured the series manufacturers’ championship for Honda with five races remaining. Honda drivers have won 10 of the series’ 11 races this year. Honda is in its second year in the IndyCar Series.

Shumacher wins for 12th time

Michael Schumacher might soon run out of records to set.

He added to his collection by winning the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary, becoming the first Formula One driver to win 12 times in a season. Schumacher has failed to win only once in the most lopsided season in the sport’s history.

“It just keeps going, and I’m going to enjoy it as long as it does,” Schumacher said. “One day it will finish.”

Starting from the pole position with teammate Rubens Barrichello beside him, Schumacher took the lead on the first turn and never trailed — not even after his three pit stops.

The 35-year-old can wrap up an unprecedented seventh drivers’ title in two weeks at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Bourdais takes Denver Grand Prix

Bumped to 13th place coming out of the race’s first turn, Sebastien Bourdais weaved his way through the field and passed Paul Tracy with 10 laps left to win the Grand Prix of Denver.

Bourdais earned the pole after becoming the first driver to break the 1-minute barrier during qualifying.