Tony Stewart jealous of Kurt Busch

Tony Stewart has the itch but is too fat

Consider Tony Stewart officially jealous that fellow NASCAR driver Kurt Busch gets to test an Indy car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this week.

The five-time Indianapolis 500 starter said today that he plans to call Busch “to see if there’s anything I can do to help him."

Busch, like Stewart a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will test Thursday with Andretti Autosport. Stewart believes Busch is more than capable of showing well.

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that he could make the (500’s) field," Stewart said following a sponsor event at the garage where he stores his classic cars. “If he gets with the right team — and obviously he’s going with Andretti — I don’t see any problem making the starting field for sure."

Busch isn’t targeting this month’s 500, but he has told reporters he’s open to pursuing a ride next year if all goes well with this test.

The 500 remains Stewart’s favorite race, but he hasn’t competed in it since 2001. Life is more complex now that as a NASCAR team owner he has a few hundred employees and their families counting on him to be focused on Stewart Haas Racing, but he noted a standing offer from Roger Penske to return to the 500.

Stewart said last week’s Goodyear tire test at IMS reminded him of driving an Indy car there.

“We ran 48.48 (seconds, or 185.644 mph), which is pretty quick in a Sprint Cup car around there," he said. “It was just fast enough that I told the team that it reminds you what an Indy car feels like.

“Granted it’s still quite a bit slower (than an Indy car), but it’s a good reminder and it gives you the itch (to drive one again)." Indy Star