In the heartland of Indiana, where open-wheel racing legend meets NASCAR royalty, Tony Stewart’s name still echoes through the corridors of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Columbus, Indiana native who transcended racing disciplines with championship titles in both IndyCar and NASCAR has long represented the pinnacle of American motorsport versatility. His maiden NHRA Top Fuel Dragster victory at the Four-Wide Nationals sparked familiar murmurs among the racing community – could Smoke make one final return to the hallowed grounds where his career began? After a 24-year absence from IndyCar competition, Stewart has now delivered a definitive verdict that reflects both his competitive spirit and his practical assessment of modern IndyCar racing.
Tony Stewart’s continued racing prowess at age 53 has naturally led fans to wonder about possibilities. His adaptability has been legendary – from dirt tracks to superspeedways, from stock cars to dragsters – making him one of motorsport’s most complete drivers. When pressed about a potential Indianapolis 500 comeback, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion offered a refreshingly candid assessment.
Stewart’s definitive verdict on an Indy 500 comeback
The racing icon pulled no punches when evaluating his prospects for a return to the Brickyard’s biggest stage, declaring it with one word —“unrealistic” to believe he could be competitive after such a lengthy absence. “Now after the last time I was in an IndyCar was 2001. So 20 plus years now to go there and even think that I’m going to be competitive is in my opinion, very unrealistic,” Stewart stated plainly in a recent interview. His honesty speaks volumes about the respect he maintains for both the event and current IndyCar competitors.
While many aging champions might entertain comeback fantasies, Stewart’s assessment comes from a place of self-awareness. “Do I feel like I could make the race and have a solid showing? I do feel like I could do that, but I don’t feel like I have what it takes not being in the cars for so long,” he explained. The technical evolution of IndyCar machinery and the specialized knowledge required to extract maximum performance present a mountain even someone of Stewart’s caliber recognizes as too steep to climb. “These guys are so good in these cars and have such a good feel and read on what these cars are and what the car needs. I don’t feel like I would have that input to give to the team to help us make the right decisions to put the package together to have a winning car.”
Tony Stewart is the first NASCAR Cup winner to also win an NHRA top fuel event. Coming off his win at Las Vegas, as he did the media rounds, of course the question of whether he has another Indianapolis 500 attempt in him came up. His answer: @IndyCarOnFOX pic.twitter.com/yJaq1WvBMB
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 16, 2025
Stewart’s Indy 500 record includes five starts between 1996 and 2001, with a career-best finish of P5 in 1998. His final attempt in 2001 resulted in a respectable sixth-place showing before he focused exclusively on his NASCAR career. “I’ve already got enough participation awards from Indy,” Tony Stewart reflected, revealing that his competitive spirit demands nothing less than victory. “The only way I want to go back and try to race the Indy 500 is if I truly feel like I have a shot to win the Indy 500.” This winning mentality has defined Stewart’s approach across every racing discipline he’s competed in, earning him 49 NASCAR Cup Series victories and an IndyCar championship in 1997.
While Stewart closed the door on his own return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, his passion for the race remains evident. “I can promise you there’s a guy that during the month of May that I’m going to be watching that I don’t get a chance to watch do that very often,” Stewart was hinting at Kyle Larson’s attempt at the historic double. Smoke is the only NASCAR driver to have completed 1100 miles on a single day back in 2001. He finished the Indy 500 with a sixth-place finish, flew back to Charlotte and notched a P3 result in the Coca-Cola 600 race.
At 53, Stewart understands that a 5-second sprint in a Top Fuel dragster is better suited for him than running 200 laps at America’s crown jewel race. He doesn’t need to prove his talents on the biggest stage, he’s been there, done that. If anything, he will be focused on making the most of the good start to 2025 in the NHRA Top Fuel.
Stewart’s NHRA success shows racing fire still burns bright
While Stewart has closed the door on a return to Indianapolis 500 competition, his recent breakthrough victory in NHRA Top Fuel shows his competitive fire remains as intense as ever. After taking over driving duties for his wife, Leah Pruett, during her pregnancy and maternity leave, Stewart captured his first NHRA Top Fuel win at Las Vegas, adding another remarkable achievement to his diverse racing resume. After a tough 2024 rookie campaign, Smoke finally snagged a win that he was looking for. But unlike the open-wheels of IndyCar or the stock machines in NASCAR, his success at NHRA wasn’t solely in his hands.
“I’ve never been in a form of motorsports that it took me this long to be in contention to win and to win a race,” Tony Stewart admitted. “But again, it makes sense when you realize that you’re 30 percent of the equation, not 70. That part’s been really frustrating, honestly.” Despite those challenges, Stewart currently sits second in the NHRA standings four events into the 2025 season, demonstrating his remarkable adaptability across racing disciplines.
The 53-year-old racing icon remains committed to supporting his family-owned team, making it clear he’ll step aside whenever Pruett is ready to return to competition. “When does she plan on getting back in the car? I don’t have an answer,” Stewart told FOX Sports. “But any minute that she decides she’s ready to get back in the car, I’ll step out.” Well, his fans would want to see more of him, especially after his heroics at Vegas. Some ambitious fans would like to see him win the Top Fuel championship, and again, it won’t be a surprise if he adds another title to his trophy cabinet.
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