F1/Nascar: Smoke and Shine – Stewart and Hamilton to swap rides

Put down that Whopper son. Photo: latimes.com

Mobil 1 has announced a promotion that will put NASCAR champion Tony Stewart into Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren F1 car.  The swap will likely occur later this year at Watkins Glen.  To which we can only say: suck it in Smoke, because you’re about the size of 1 1/2 Lewis Hamiltons.

For the unaware, Tony Stewart’s typical workout consists of a Burger King Whopper.  Lewis is partial to a health regimen designed by his physio.  Here is a description of a Hamilton workout: “Hamilton invests 4-6 hours a day in physical fitness training. He does long bike tours alongside his assistants, walks, and trains at the gym. Hamilton likes variety when training: swimming, hiking, and skiing, seem to top the list. Hamilton can generally be found on ski tours before the motor cross season starts, engaging himself in dangerously steep hills – for him the perfect training, and best adrenaline rush.”  His diet is equally careful.

Stewart was never known for his fitness, but has finally realized that with age comes greater training need.  He told NASCAR.com that “I still like my Burger King and I still like my pizza. I like chili. I like things that aren’t necessarily on that diet of [50+ colleague Mark Martin]. But he’s real religious about it. You do it long enough and it really does become part of your life — but there are still things that I like to eat that I can’t completely give up.”

Just like when Nigel Mansell was unable to squeeze into a McLaren in 1995, we predict much groaning and stretching when Stewart squeezes into the cockpit.  But don’t be surprised if this former IndyCar driver impresses with his ability to turn right.

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