NASCAR first series to run after Wheldon death

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Tony Stewart competes in NASCAR. His heart, though, belongs to open-wheel racing, and he spent the first 25 years of his life trying to get to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

When he did, in 1996, he and teammate Scott Brayton qualified first and second. Six days later, Brayton was killed during a practice run.

Stewart, a rookie that year, continued on every day at Indianapolis, started his first 500 nine days later and led 44 laps until his engine blew -- finally bringing an end to what was supposed to be a celebration of him fulfilling his lifelong dream.

But that's what racers do. They race, and they'll race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, where NASCAR becomes the first major series to run since Dan Wheldon died Sunday in the IndyCar season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"It doesn't affect us, getting back in the car," said Stewart, who won an IndyCar Series title in 1997. "We all know that can happen every week. It's been a part of racing forever."

Only some in NASCAR knew Wheldon, a popular two-time Indianapolis 500 winner who raced in a rival series. But his death touched everyone and, 10 years after NASCAR's last fatality, brought the element of danger back to the spotlight.

NASCAR finds itself this weekend on its biggest and fastest track, where speeds can hit 200 mph and Carl Edwards' car went sailing into the fence in a 2009 last-lap accident. Debris flew into the grandstands, and seven fans were injured.

"Fortunately, everybody was OK and everything worked out and all the safety stuff in place worked," Edwards said. "But that was a little wake-up call to me that this stuff is serious."

On Friday, Greg Biffle posted the fastest lap of the two practice sessions at 198.94 mph.

Most drivers refuse to even think about the risk factor when they get into the car. But five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, who walked away from a nasty hit in last Saturday's race at Charlotte, said Wheldon's death has made drivers confront the dangers.

Johnson was one of 10 drivers who tested at Charlotte on Monday, the day after Wheldon's accident.

"Getting in the car ... deep in the back of my mind, just thinking about things and there's my marks in the wall in Turn 2 and I'm like, 'I hit pretty hard,' " Johnson said. "I think we spend very little time as drivers thinking about it, right or wrong. It's just kind of who we are."