Stewart

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Tony Stewart discovered a quick elixir for his woes: A fast lap on Friday around Watkins Glen International.

Stewart qualified third for the Sirius Satellite at The Glen on Sunday -- a day after Home Depot, the sponsor of his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac, put him on team probation for the rest of the Winston Cup season and fined him $50,000.

''It's nice to go out after all the destruction I've done and be able to go out there and do something positive. It's a good reward for the team,'' said Stewart, who again found himself swirled in controversy after punching a photographer in the aftermath of a 12th-place finish Sunday in the Brickyard 400.

''These guys have needed a good opportunity like that. They've been working so hard -- 16- to 18-hour days. That's how dedicated a group of guys we have.''

It marks the second straight year Stewart will end the season on probation. Last year, the Indiana native drew a $10,000 fine and had his probation extended for the rest of last season after slapping away a reporter's tape recorder and then kicking it under a truck.

Stewart also was involved in a shoving incident with NASCAR officials last season.

''I don't think any of us are absolutely perfect,'' Stewart said. ''I've thought that I always could control my temper and make changes myself and get it under control. Obviously, I can't, so we'll find somebody that can help me do that. If it makes me a lesser person or a lesser man, then so be it. Admitting I've got a problem probably is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life.''

Stewart said when he arrived at the track on Friday he was greeted by several drivers and NASCAR officials who gave him a show of support. He said that made him more determined to correct his problem.

''I'm 31 years old and I've worked hard to get to this level and sacrificed a lot of things,'' he said. ''But I think I've got myself frustrated somewhere along the line. I'm going to backtrack a little bit and find out where I'm getting unhappy and make the adjustments where I can enjoy the last half of my life.''

Grumbling Gordon

	Gordon

Jeff Gordon has won four of the last five Winston Cup races at Watkins Glen, but he'll have to work pretty hard Sunday to stop a 29-race winless streak.

Gordon qualified only 23rd on Friday, his worst effort in 12 races at The Glen.

''That stinks,'' he said. ''But I've never been one that's been big on poles here. We always seem to run good in the race.''

With a little luck, Gordon won last year after starting 13th. He also notched his first road course victory here in 1997 after starting 11th.

''Just like anywhere else, track position is very, very important,'' said Gordon, who has eight top 10 finishes in 11 starts at The Glen. ''Starting where we're going from, I'm not real happy about it. We made some adjustments to tighten the car up, but we didn't go far enough.''

Riderless Fellows
Canadian road-racing ace Ron Fellows had the worst seat in the house during qualifying Friday -- in street clothes sitting in a cart watching from trackside.

The only positive he could draw from the day was that Michael Waltrip qualified second for the race, barely getting bumped from the pole by Ricky Rudd.

''I thought when I talked to him this morning that they had a real good car to race with and anything he got in qualifying would be a bonus,'' said Fellows, who gave Waltrip a few tips during testing here in July. ''It looks like the setup they've got is ideal.''

Fellows was left without a ride this year when Bully Hill Vineyards opted not to sponsor the car he's driven here in the past and two other prospects fell through.

''The money just didn't come together,'' said Fellows, who finished second to Jeff Gordon in 1999. ''We waited until the 11th hour and it just didn't come together. It's a shame.''

Fellows said he was heading back home to Toronto and had no plans to watch the race on television.

''I'm not a very good spectator,'' he said. ''It's too tough.''