Ten NASCAR drivers who'd be competitive at Indy 500

	Tony Stewart leads a group of cars around a corner during the 1997 Indy 500. AP

INDIANAPOLIS -- Being mired in Rainyapolis, a.k.a. the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the week before qualifications actually were completed -- when the weather was nice -- offered plenty of time for speculation. A particularly wet afternoon left me to ponder: Which Nextel Cup drivers would be most comfortable racing the Indy 500?

Over the years, a few top NASCAR drivers such as Bobby and Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough and Lee Roy Yarborough have jumped inside an Indy car and run the 2.5-mile Brickyard. Donnie even finished fourth in 1970.

In recent years, the chance to do the Double -- race at Indy during the day, then fly to Charlotte for the NASCAR race that night -- has enticed drivers such as Tony Stewart, John Andretti and Robby Gordon, but a later start time at Indy this year will prevent that from happening. 

So just how different is driving a 1,600-pound, 650 horsepower open wheeler from driving the 3,400-pound stock cars producing 790 horsepower? It can be summed up in one word: finesse. The open-wheel cars are extremely sensitive to change of direction. They accelerate faster and brake faster. That puts a premium on reaction time and the ability to see several moves ahead of you.

Given that parameter, as well as experience in Indy cars and the ability to adapt to any environment, here is my top 10 list of NASCAR drivers who could succeed at the Indy 500. 

1. TONY STEWART
The defending Cup champ not only has previous Indy 500 experience, he's a former IRL champion and race winner at other open-wheel events. Stewart is happy to drive anything -- including a radio-controlled car.