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From ESPN's site

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart expects to be fined by USAC for an "altercation" with an official during Thursday night's race at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

The incident occurred after points leader Tracy Hines, who drives for one of Stewart's two midget teams, got into the wall and there wasn't a track official or push truck present to help get the car back in the race.

Hines' crew reportedly attempted to change a right rear flat and get him back into the race before another restart. As they pushed the car to the front of the straightaway, a USAC official indicated they were too late.

Stewart then came down to pit lane to get an explanation for the call. He reportedly knocked the headset from the official's head and then shoved him.

"We had an altercation," Stewart said Friday after unveiling the car number (14) and sponsors (Office Depot and Old Spice) he'll showcase for Stewart-Haas Racing next season. "It was a situation [where] we didn't understand a call they made."

USAC did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Stewart said the incident ultimately could cost Hines, who finished 22nd, the USAC crown. He also admitted if he had to do it over again he wouldn't have confronted the official.

"When you're sitting there and you've got your corporate sponsors there and you've got a car on the racetrack and it's sitting on pit lane and they can't get a push truck to it, you're supporting your guys and your team that worked on that car to get it back out," he said.

"There was definitely a disagreement. We talked about it after it happened and after the race was over. It got their eyes open and they're doing everything they can to make sure incidents like that don't happen again."

another case of USAC officals that think they are gods gift to racing! Gee, I don't think I've ever seen that before!! Must have been a one time thing!!!!

ziggy -

so in your opinion, it's OK for a competitor to confront and accost an official? Even if it is just a mild(?) attack?... I certainly hope that's not what you meant.....Sorry, but if TS knocked the official around, in any way, he deserves to be fined. Whether or not the official thinks he's gods' gift, he's still the official.....

Chuck.....

Thats not at all what I meant. I was addressing the fact that their car was ready and the push truck that brought them back to the work area had left. If it was just a flat tire they should know that Tracy Hines team would get it changed quickly, and should have held the push truck there to get him started again. Than there would have been no conflict!!!

Chuck

Let me ask you this question ? Do you think that it is OK for an official to put his hands on a crew member just because he is an official ? As this happened to me a few years back at Perris when I was trying to ask another official why he made the call that he did . I made a smart a** comment and that official told me fu and I said fu back to him thats when another official came up and put his hands on me . It was a heat of the moment thing and I understand that but it does not give that official the right to put his hands on me at all . I never put my hands on him or the other official I was stating my case over with. I complained to USAC about it and I was told that I was in the wrong and that was the end of the discussion . I'm not trying to be a jerk I just think that the rules need to apply to both competitors and officials .

Chuck I'm not disagreeing with you on this If Tony Stewart did what they said he did then yes I agree a fine is in order . But the same should also apply to the officials .

Let me just state that me and the officials that had the disagreement all sat down and talked about it and agreed that it was all in the heat of the moment and that there was going to be no hard feelings

Joe Clifton

Mr. Stewarts frustration is with the push truck! of which USAC has NO control. Tony Stewart is constantly sharing his lack of ability to be professional. And now this thread has turned into USAC's god's gift attitude??????

PEOPLE!!! the issue is that a competitor physicly accosted an official PERIOD.

USAC, NASCAR, SCRA, VRA, ASCA what ever,... its NOT acceptable!!!! I dont care who you are.

Tony Stewart is a great racecar driver. No doubt about that, but he has a bad additude and a horrible people skills problem. At first, it was somewhat amusing and likened to A.J. Foyt, but there is nothing amusing about it anymore. It is old and boring. Few people at Gibbs Racing are sad about his departure.

Tony Stewart is wonderful for racing. Look at how he gives back to the sport!! How many race teams does he own? Midgets. silver crown, wingless sprints, winged outlaw sprints, and so on. Besides the fact he owns race tracks and puts on some of the biggest money shows in short track history!!!!!!!

How much more does he have to do to get some respect????? He was just upset with the fact that his driver got screwed by USAC, and took it out on an official. Fine him some little fine and be done with it. Just don't be stupid and try to make an example out of him USAC!!!!

He is very GOOD for our sport!!!

maybe I missed the boat but, I don't think the USAC officials do a bad job.. I'm not saying the association is on top of things but the officials (as individuals) seem to keep things balanced pretty well. They seem to catch a lot of slack though.

BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS!....OH YEAH..AND EMPTY POCKETS.
GOD I LOVE RACING!

Ziggy,

I am amazed that you are trying to jutify what hes done,

Hell,.. I own 4 sprint cars help a couple midget guys, have owned 6 quarter midgets have won 39 main events, and a championship. does that mean I can assualt an official? or do i need to do more for my sport first.

Bottomline he conducts himself like an ass. he could buy 8 more race tracks ten more midgets, and 30 more sprint cars, he STILL shouldnt put his hands on an official.

Wrong ,Kevin,USAC is in control of the racing surface,the pits and certainly the work area.The official at the entry area to the race track was the person responsible to get a push truck called up while the racers crew changed the tire,thats why he's got the headset on..as far as laying hands on anyone that was wrong of Mr. Stewart,we all can agree on that...... 50 plus years officiating races and they still have people who fail to do their jobs and give racers no respose when questioned... The NEW USAC my ass......

Joe -

There's no place for any physical confrontation in the pits, regardless of the reason. If an official grabbed you, he was wrong. And I never stated that it was OK. Just like Tony was wrong at ORP for accosting an official. While his frustration with the situation is understandable, his actions are not. His car is not the first to be left in the push off lane, and it won't be the last....

Impulse control - it's what makes us adults and differentiates us from 6 year old kids ...Like KK says, Tony may be doing a lot of good, what with his team ownership and charitable work, but that doesn't make him any less of a bully in this case......

Chuck.....

Drug test all of them! The drug testing rule is for "officials" as well as drivers. May as well select a few fans and test them, acouple of random crew members, several owners and all in the announcing booth and the tower. Toss in a mix of concession booth workers and some from the parking lot (flag man also). Oh and don't forget some random posters from this site tossed in! LOL Lets see who really is dirty.

Usac has complete and total control of the push off / work area. Unless you were there and had a radio on you will never know the reason. After the line up is correct on the track you get 2 caution laps to complete your work. When the starter shows 1 to go the track is closed if he is ready or not. Scenarios in the past has cars ready after the 2 laps and the field had been shown with cars on the back straight and they go green, car ready or not. As far as an official touching you he was probably trying to take you away from the conflict to calm the situation. I have seen that several times. It seems most people want to slam the officials but why don't you try and say thanks. Think of what it would be like without them. Volunteer sometime and see what it is like on the other side of the fence. Try and stay positive.

Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their
level and beat you with experience!!!! 

Just a quick question for my own benefit i guess...

How many of those on this thread were actually at ORP for this incident?

Thanks,

rk

RADROBINLB

As far as an official touching you he was probably trying to take you away from the conflict to calm the situation.

Does not matter I can not put my hands on the Official and he should not be able to put his hands on me Its that simple. Just to let you know it was not a simple hey go calm down and we can talk later . I damn near had to pick my ass up off the ground and if it was not for 2 car owners leading me away from the sistuation it could of been alot worse.

All im saying is if we have to obide by the rules then so should they . We are all human and make mistakes and mine was smarting off to the officail in the first place but just because they officiate an event does not make them a God

Joe Clifton

I just saw the tape,an amature photograghers tape ,it clearly shows Tony Stewart to be an Ass.USAC should bar Stewart from the pits till he successfully completes an anger management course.The USAC official he assaulted showed great restraint..........please go race indy cars tony,stomp your feet and pought with Danica,for all your trying to do to help sprint car/midget/silver crown,when you act up like this your an embarassment........

RADROBINLB

I had to hunt it down. Maybe this will work, thanks.. http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=8741569

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.