Tony Stewart grabs most of the headlines for the No. 20 Chevrolet team that has captured two Cup championships since 2002, but the man behind the scenes who has helped Stewart's car go fast since 1999 is crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

When Stewart and Zipadelli guided the No. 20 to a victory at Chicagoland Speedway two weeks ago, it was their first triumph of the 2007 season and their 30th together at the Nextel Cup level. Now they head to Stewart's favorite track for the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Stewart, a native of Indiana, won the pole in 2002 and the race in 2005.

In the midst of his ninth season paired with the mercurial and often controversial, outspoken Stewart, Zipadelli talked about their affinity for Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their relationship and what might lie ahead as they prepare to make their series-high 304th consecutive start together.

Q: Could you talk about your success at the Brickyard and how special it is to race there?

Zipadelli: I think everybody kind of raises and elevates their passion a little bit, because it's such a big deal to Tony. It's such a big deal to all of us. It's such a prestigious event.

The significance of that racetrack itself, and the history of it, and more importantly for us and our group, we know that it's something that's very special to our driver. It means an awful lot to go back there and hopefully have an opportunity to win our second race there. That would be pretty special.

Q: Is there something specific about the track that you guys like?

Zipadelli: It's just a fast track. I think it's a pretty tough racetrack. Your car has got to turn so good, and your front end's got to really work. You need real good aero. You need a really good motor.

I think it's a combination: you need track position, so you need good pit stops at that place -- because if you give it up, it's real hard to get back. It's just fun. You get those long, long straightaways, but then you get short chutes where your car turns different into (Turn) 1 than it does into (Turn) 2 because it's different and you have to drive to it. So there are just a lot of elements to that racetrack that make it special, make it tough to get around. I think it's a driver's racetrack. It's kind of like Pocono, kind of like the road courses to a little extent in that you have to have, I think, a versatile driver who can kind of move around and change his line because you're not going to get all four corners to be the same, and drive the same. They've got to be able to give up and make up some (in the corners).

Q: Could you talk about going there for the first time with Tony in 1999?

Zipadelli: You know, in '99 life was so overwhelming to be in the position we were in. I think we went there and finished sixth, if I'm not mistaken. We had a pretty good racecar. It was a pretty neat deal, walking in there for the first time and going through listening to the announcer go through the history and everything.

For myself, I had a lot of special moments in '99, going into places with the opportunity that I had and the opportunity that Tony had -- and the accomplishments that we made that year. (Continued)