TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Tony Stewart walked away unscathed from a frightening accident Saturday when his car flipped onto its roof during the Busch Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Stewart, the defending Nextel Cup champion, was running in third when he drove into Kenny Wallace's path and the two cars touched. The hit wasn't hard, but enough to send Stewart's car airborne.
"I take 100 percent responsibility for this one, I just drove in front of [Wallace's] nose," Stewart said. "I looked in that little side mirror and I thought I had enough room to get down, and I didn't. I just clipped him."
His Chevrolet landed on its roof near the start/finish line, and skidded several hundred feet toward the first turn. The car was also hit by rookie Danny O'Quinn, who couldn't avoid Stewart during the 10-second slide.
"All I saw was Stewart upside down," O'Quinn said. "I didn't really have anywhere to go."
It took medical personnel several minutes to get Stewart out of the car because it was upside down and at an awkward angle. Once out, he went to the medical care facility to be examined.
Stewart, making just his third Busch series start of the season, starts second in Sunday's Cup race.
"Anything will be better than this tomorrow," Stewart said with a laugh.