Three in a row in jeopardy
Dustin Long checks in from Chicagoland:
Tony Stewart, the defending race winner at Chicago and winner of the last 2 Cup races, has been transported to a local hospital for precautionary x-rays after an accident earlier in practice.Stewart's car appeared to drift up the track in turn 4, slam the wall with the right side and coast across the track, stopping in the infield grass. He appeared wobbly when he was helped from the car by rescuse workers. Unofficial word is a possible shoulder injury. The car didn't look that beat up from the TV camera view, so it was a bit surprising to see him groggy after exiting the car.
Don't get the sense this is serious enough to keep him out of the car on Sunday.
That's all I know at this point. I'll try to update this when I hear more.
Update, 2:10 p.m.:
NASCAR.com reports that Stewart is awake and alert and that JGR is rolling out his backup car. The car he wrecked is the one he drove at Michigan, where he finished second.
The AP (not linked) added this: A year ago, Stewart also crashed in Friday's practice. He was not injured and wound up qualifying his backup car 10th.
He also went on to win. Maybe history's repeating itself? I hope he's not badly hurt.
7:10 p.m. update: J.J. Yeley subbed for Stewart in qualifying and put the car in the 13th spot. Assuming Stewart races Sunday -- and AP reports that he was back at the track this afternoon -- he'll start from the back.
Good news, eh? The part about Stewart not being injured, I mean. Starting 43rd won't be fun.
Saturday update: Dustin Long's report is here.