Richmond II: Stewart practice accident notes

No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Team Forced to Backup Car After Crash in Practice at Richmond

HENRICO COUNTY, Va., (Sept. 8, 2006) - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Tony Stewart crashed his primary No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet in the opening laps of this morning's practice session at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. He spun in turn two, impacting the SAFER barrier on the outside retaining wall with the left side of the car. Stewart was unhurt in the incident. The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Team will now race Chassis No. 103 in Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400.

This is just the third time in its seven-and-three-quarter-year existence the No. 20 team has had to use its backup race car following a crash in practice. The only other times where its backup race car was used due to a crash in practice was at Chicagoland in 2004 and 2005.

During the morning practice session at Chicagoland in 2004, Stewart hit oil in turn three, spun, and impacted the SAFER barrier with the left side of the race car. Stewart went on to win the race in his backup.

In 2005, again during the morning practice, Stewart cut a right front tire upon entering turn four of the 1.5-mile oval, making a right side impact with the SAFER barrier along the turn four retaining wall. Stewart went on to finish fifth.

The History of Chassis No. 103:

This was a brand new race car with its first track time of any kind having come at last year's fall Richmond race. It enjoyed a solid outing at the .75-mile oval, coming from 25th to as high as third before finishing seventh. The 2006 season started out extremely well for Chassis No. 103, where at the spring Martinsville race it started third and led five times for a race-high 288 laps en route to its first career victory. It was Stewart's first win of 2006, his second at Martinsville and the 25th point-paying win of his career. Chassis No. 103 will make its third career start in Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond.

-credit: JGR