Danica Doesn't Want to Race in Japan (and Tony Stewart's Crude Comments to AP Writer)

From the Richmond NASCAR Busch Series garage today comes this Jenna Fryer AP report on Danica and IndyCar... and did any of you see Tony Stewart ream Jenna a new one today when he was being interviewed on NASCAR Now, telling her MartySmith knew how to ask intelligent questions, but she asked the same one for seven straight weeks? Think I have to agree with Danica's point of view.

Tony Stewart Berates AP Reporter Jenna Fryer (blonde on left) at Richmond Friday

Sep 9, 1:32 PM EDT

Patrick concerned about racing next week in Japan

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Danica Patrick said Friday she is concerned about traveling to Japan for the Sept. 18 IndyCar race at Twin Ring Motegi.

MotoGP postponed its April race until October because of concerns stemming from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country earlier this year. But IndyCar is going forward with its event and Patrick questioned the wisdom of that decision.

"I don't want to make anyone mad, but heck yeah, I'm concerned," Patrick said at Richmond International Raceway. "MotoGP has made a big fuss about going there, and their race got delayed, and is still after ours next weekend. They had a study done that seemed it was relatively safe. The radiation seems OK."

But Patrick said she is concerned about the food and water, as well as the earthquakes that have occurred since the March disaster. She and her husband plan to pack as much food and water as possible.

"They say don't eat beef, which probably means don't eat vegetables and fruit," she said. "I read something about nine times the radiation in mushrooms so far out of Fukushima in that area. And there's earthquakes every week. It seems every other week there's a pretty big one."

Patrick has just three IndyCar races remaining before she makes a full-time move to NASCAR next season. She's scheduled to drive a full Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports, and up to 10 Sprint Cup races with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Her only victory in the IndyCar Series came at Japan, in 2008, on the oval track. IndyCar can't run next week's race on the oval because of safety concerns, so the race was shifted to a road course.

"I think there's a general concern for the safety of being over there," she said. "I'm told IndyCar has an emergency plan if something happens and we need to all get out. Which is terrible to think about it. I guess it's that we've compromised on the track, (and) IndyCar isn't going back after this year anyway.

"It just seems like a lot of forced things to make it happen. I'm just a driver and I show up where I have to show up."

PKL,

I am so glad somebody else heard that deal from Tony. And I could eat meatloaf 7 days a week! Typical guy I guess. I often order it out and that irritates my wife for some reason - and she makes an excellent meatloaf using my late mom's recipe. Not having been around the circuit for many years, I don't know if Tony and Jenna have "past history" or not. I know I had a little "incident" with Tony the first time I met him back in the early 90s. We ran at Richmond a combined USAC Silver Crown and Midget event and Tony came to RIR for the first time. We decided to staff that June night USACdoubleheader just like it was a bigtime NASCAR show and I had full press support just like for a NASCAR weekend. Harold Pearson, former president of the National Motorsports Press Association and motorsports writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch was my head "pit notes" gatherer for the assembled media. Tony refused to speak to Harold when he fell out of the race and Harold called me in the press box to express his disgust with this "newcomer". Later, Dick Jordan of USAC and I attempted to explain to Tony that he was no longer at a Saturday night Indiana short track and we were trying to do he and his sponsor a favor by including them in our pit notes. I never had any use for Tony after that incident when he acted so hateful for no reason. Funny thing, one of my very closest friends later became Vice President of Public Relations for Home Depot and attempted to re-explain to Tony why you cooperate with the press. I've never met Jenna, but I thought Tony's comments to her today on live tv were cheapshot, chicken---- and juvenile. It absolutely amazes me why a sponsor would put up with such behavior, regardless of the driving talent..

I love the bit when Stewart was asked by a reporter if he thought NASCAR was too safe.

His answer

"Well, I can say that the media center is getting boring in here because it is too safe in here because you guys got four legs on your chairs so we start sawing legs off. What do you think about that? You like that idea? Are you paying attention? What do you think?"

Viewpoint of Motorsports Writer Monte Dutton in The Gaston Gazette Regarding Tony Stewart at RIR

RICHMOND, Va. Television has carte blanche. It can do what it wants.

ESPN cut in on the so-called garage-area media availability of Tony Stewart in the Richmond International Raceway on Friday, and it caught Stewart basically berating the Associated Presss Jenna Fryer live. Stewart also turned in the opposite direction after going off on one of his garden-variety diatribes considering his educated evaluation of journalism and what constitutes a good question.

As soon as Stewart finished cuffing the woman reporter around, he quickly went the other way and lavishly praised ESPNs Marty Smith, who asked the next question.

It couldnt have been planned, but from King Televisions point of view, it certainly was convenient.

Stewart took issue at being asked about the Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway, suggesting that Fryer should take what he said before the last seven races.

Sorry, Tony, but asking a question about the race at the track where the interview is taking place is acceptable.



Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/tussle-60712-notebook-stewart.html#ixzz1XZAT0b6S

Here's the Tony Stewart Richmond Interview... you decide if he is being a jerk....

Tonymay run #14, but AJ he's not. Now I have got to wondering, if NASCAR can fine Denny Hamlin $50,000 for tweets they thought derogatory to NASCAR, what dollar amount would you put on the Tony intereview?