Stewart considers return to drive in Indianapolis 500

DEARBORN, Mich. — Tony Stewart is considering a return to the Indianapolis 500 next year.

Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion and Indiana native, grew up chasing a win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won twice there in NASCAR’s Brickyard 400, but was never able to win the Indy 500.

He last entered the event in 2001. Now retired from full-time racing, Stewart said Thursday he’d like another crack at the Indy 500. But he has one caveat: Stewart will only drive a competitive car.

Stewart has five starts in the Indianapolis 500, starting on pole as a rookie in 1996 and leading 64 laps in a career-best fifth in 1997.

Stewart will turn 48 next May before the Indy 500. He could potentially get a ride with Andretti Autosport, which fields multiple cars in the Indy 500 every year.

Speedway Motorsports is promising NASCAR fans a ticket credit if a race is postponed because of weather at any of its eight of SMI’s Cup Series tracks.

If a NASCAR race is postponed and the ticket holder is unable to attend on the rescheduled date, a ticket credit can be issued toward a race at any SMI venue. The initiative is valid at Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Texas and Sonoma Raceway in California.

Fans with an unused ticket will have 60 days from the original race date to request a credit. The credit must be used toward another SMI NASCAR event within one calendar year or the same event the next year.