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The third-year driver could face further action after a failure to pull off for a black flag dropped him from sixth to 26th.
By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2001
DAYTONA BEACH -- Even pop star Britney Spears, who stopped by the Winston Cup driver's meeting before the Pepsi 400 on Saturday, heard the ultimatum.
NASCAR officials instructed drivers not to go below a yellow line that rings the bottom of Daytona International Speedway for safety concerns. They requested the same for the Talladega 500 in April at Talladega Superspeedway.
"There is a gas pedal on the right and a brake in the middle," said James Ince, crew chief for Johnny Benson's No. 10 Pontiac. "It was pretty clear in the driver's meeting where the yellow line was."
But with four laps to go, three drivers surrounding him and the leader in sight, Tony Stewart broke the rule as he sped along the Daytona frontstretch in pursuit of eventual winner Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He paid dearly and could face further action from NASCAR this week.
"We're going to take care of that later in the week," John Griffin, managing director of communications for NASCAR, said about the likelihood of punishment for Stewart.
NASCAR black-flagged Stewart and dropped him from sixth to 26th place in the final results -- the last car on the lead lap -- after he refused to acknowledge the penalty while the race was going on.
Stewart later had to be restrained by team members from going after Winston Cup director Gary Nelson and slapped a reporter's tape recorder to the ground before kicking it under a transporter in the garage.
"That was their rule," his crew chief Greg Zipadelli said of the yellow line. "Do I agree with it? I do. But I think there are some circumstances at times that put people in a situation. It's a very sensitive situation."
Zipadelli and car owner Joe Gibbs pleaded with NASCAR officials to reverse the decision, which cost Stewart 65 points in the standings where he is 201 behind leader Jeff Gordon in fourth place.
"We made a judgment call," NASCAR spokeswoman Danielle Humphrey told the Associated Press.
The incident was yet another in a number of flare-ups by the temperamental driver since his arrival in Winston Cup less than three seasons ago.
Stewart was placed on a season-long probation for spinning Jeff Gordon around after the Food City 500 in March at Bristol Motor Speedway, meaning he could face more penalties from NASCAR.
TIME OF RACE: 2 hours, 32 minutes, 18 seconds.
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.123 seconds.
AVERAGE SPEED: 157.601 mph.
CAUTION FLAGS: 3 for 15 laps.
LEAD CHANGES: 14 among 9 drivers.
LAP LEADERS: S. Marlin 0; W. Burton 1-2; S. Marlin 3-9; K. Harvick 10; S. Marlin 11-23; M. Waltrip 24-25; K. Harvick 26; D. Earnhardt Jr. 27-49; M. Kenseth 50-54; T. Bodine 55-56; D. Earnhardt Jr. 57-89; R. Pressley 90; D. Earnhardt Jr. 91-145; J. Benson 146-155; D. Earnhardt Jr. 156-160.
TROPICANA 400. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Chicagoland Speedway. TV: Ch. 8.