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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Defending champ Stewart crashes again


A crew member removes the manifold from Tony Stewart's car after he crashed. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

Maybe Tony Stewart should just skip Fridays at Chicagoland Speedway at Joliet, Ill.

For the second straight year, Stewart crashed during the Friday practice, forcing him to move to a backup car.

A year ago, it was just a bump in the road. The uninjured Stewart jumped into the backup car later the same day, qualified 10th and wound up knocking Kasey Kahne out of the way as he raced to a victory on the 1 1/2 -mile oval two days later.

This time, there was no jumping. Stewart climbed gingerly out of the driver’s side window after slapping the wall with the right side of his No. 20 Chevrolet and sliding into the infield grass.

Stewart appeared a bit wobbly when helped to the ambulance for the mandatory ride to the infield care center. He was later taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary X-rays and a CT Scan.

J.J. Yeley, who drives a Busch series car for Joe Gibbs Racing, shook down the backup Cup car in practice and qualified it.

Nextel Cup series points leader Jimmie Johnson won the pole with a lap at 188.147 mph in a Chevrolet. Ryan Newman took the outside of the front row in a Dodge.

Yeley, the last of 47 drivers to hit the track, put the car in the 13th position. But Stewart, who will have a chance to practice in the backup today, will have to start from the back of the 43-car field if, as expected, he replaces Yeley on Sunday.

Newman takes Busch series pole

Ryan Newman won the pole for the Busch series race at Chicagoland Speedway, giving him front-row starting positions for both weekend races.

The Nextel Cup star went 186.438 mph in his Dodge to take the top spot for today’s USG Durock 300 Busch race.

Kasey Kahne was second at 184.989 in Busch qualifying, giving Dodge the front row.

Junqueira returns to track

Bruno Junqueira took cautious, careful steps, gently slid into his seat and let out a deep breath.

Six weeks after breaking his back in an accident during the Indianapolis 500, Junqueira is not completely healed.

But the Brazilian driver was feeling strong enough to make his first appearance at a race track. His time at the Toronto Molson Indy won’t help his recovery, but certainly lifted his spirits.

Junqueira was poised to have a strong season for Newman-Haas Racing this year after finishing third in the opening event then winning in Mexico on May 22 to take over the points lead.

Junqueira was running sixth in the May 29 race when he collided with A.J. Foyt IV and spun into the wall.

Junqueira broke two vertebrae and had surgery the next day to place two rods and 10 screws into his back. Doctors told him it would take weeks to be on his feet and moving around. He proved them wrong by walking two days after surgery.

His fitness – which before the accident was achieved largely from a routine that alternated cycling, swimming and Pilates – has Junqueira hopeful he’ll race again this season.