Racing briefs for September 21, 2005

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Stewart wrecks during test in Charlotte

NASCAR points leader Tony Stewart crashed during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday, raising serious questions about the track surface.

Stewart crashed his Chevrolet after running just a handful of laps, then ended his session because of a headache. He met briefly with track president Humpy Wheeler before heading home.

Also wrecking during the test session were Greg Biffle, who is second in the points and had his accident with just over an hour left of track time, and Mike Bliss and Boris Said. None of the drivers were injured.

Wheeler used a grinding process called "levigating" in the turns of the track earlier this year to smooth out the trademark bumps in an effort to foster more side-by-side racing. After a NASCAR-record 22 cautions during the May race, Wheeler went back and levigated the rest of the surface.

None of the drivers participating in Tuesday's test session think the changes helped.

"I don't remember any of the drivers asking for changes," Stewart told reporters before leaving. "You've got to give Humpy credit for trying to make the track better. He actually made it worse instead."

Of the 22 cautions in May, 16 were for accidents or spins although not all could be blamed on the surface. The track was to blame, though, for a gaping hole that was punched into the front of Jeff Gordon's car when a chunk of sealer came loose.

And even though the grinding was done to create better racing, many drivers complained that passing was difficult on the smooth surface.

So Wheeler went for more grinding in an effort to improve the surface before the track's Oct. 15 race.

"It was the world's greatest racetrack, and it was awesome the way it was," Mark Martin said. "It's just messed up now.

"Humpy has tried to make it better ... but he shouldn't have tried to manipulate this racetrack in the first place. I don't know why it had to be more exciting for the fans than it was, because it was a great racetrack."

Biffle was hesitant to take his car onto the track after Stewart's accident. Martin and Kurt Busch, Biffle's Roush Racing teammates, decided to test the surface, and Biffle said Martin nearly wrecked and Busch was threatening to call it quits.

Briscoe wants to get back on the track after fiery crash

Ryan Briscoe's back is bruised and sore, his fractured collarbones and foot painful and his promising rookie season over. But the fiery crash for which he will be remembered hasn't tempered his passion to drive.

Less than two weeks after crashing in Chicago, Briscoe announced he hopes to climb back into the No. 33 Target Chip Ganassi car within two months.

"I'm thankful I've gotten out of this and am back on my feet," he said Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to getting back on my feet and back in the car."

If Briscoe, who turns 24 Saturday, has his way, he'll be racing in the IRL's season-opener next March and driving into Victory Lane shortly after.

To those who saw the frightening crash that derailed Briscoe's season, two months might seem an optimistic estimate. To Briscoe, who started racing go-karts in 1993, it's an eternity.

"I want to do what I love and racing cars is what I love," he said. "It's going to take a lot more than that (crash) to keep me from doing that."

On the 20th lap of the Sept. 11 race, Briscoe found himself pinched between Patrick Carpentier and Alex Barron as the cars went three wide through the third turn. When Barron dropped down, he tapped Briscoe's tires and Briscoe's car flipped. The car slammed into the SAFER barrier and the rear end of the car broke away as debris ripped a hole in the fence.

The curly haired, baby-faced driver was alert enough to remove the steering wheel but needed help to unbuckle his seat belt and get out of the car. The fire, and searing heat that nearly overcame a track worker and Briscoe, followed.

"I remember seeing air, and I remember seeing flames," he said. "It happens so quick, you just hope you get out. It was a pretty scary moment. I didn't feel any real sharp pain, I guess it was a bit of panic and shock."

Now, Briscoe must deal with the recovery.

After being released from the hospital Monday, he returned to Ganassi's race shop Tuesday to start his comeback.

New president not focusing on unification with IRL

Steve Johnson's plans for the Champ Car World Series do not yet include even a passing thought about possible unification with the rival Indy Racing League.

As the new president of Champ Car, Johnson said Tuesday his only focus is on promoting his series to fans and sponsors.

Johnson, who comes from a business background, is a former vice president of the National Hot Rod Association and president of the Sports Car Club of America. He took over Champ Car on Monday and said the series likely will have some major announcements in the next few weeks, including additional sponsors, new chassis and television packages and possibly another race on its 2006 schedule.

-- Sun wire services